Did you know Shuvee Etrata has a dream of becoming Miss Universe?
Speaking with Manila Standard Lifestyle, the former Pinoy Big Brother housemate says she hopes to one day join the international pageant while encouraging children to embrace confidence and self-acceptance.
Shuvee recalled how insecurity shaped her growing up. “Before, I was really insecure. I had a lot of self-doubts,” she shared.
“I would cover myself and put on makeup just to hide my imperfections. But the moment I believed in myself and tried to embrace who I am, that was the moment everybody loved me. You don’t need to change every single piece of yourself. You don’t even need to make other people love you. You just need to be yourself, because by being yourself, people will love you truly for who you are,” the 24-year-old morena beauty added.
The television darling added that she hopes the message resonates with young girls who feel unseen.
“Your younger self will be proud of you as long as you accept yourself for who you are,” Shuvee noted. “I did it, and you can do it, too. I love you all.”
Asked if pageants are in her future, Shuvee explained that Miss Universe has been a lifelong dream.
“It has been a dream of mine to go to Miss Universe ever since I was young. However, right now, I believe Sparkle knows me better. So I will depend on them for my career plans. For now, I’d like to hone my skills first and be the best version of myself before joining any beauty pageant.”
Vivienne Vanity Lounge as its first celebrity ambassador
Shuvee pointed out that her growing platform also brings added pressure and responsibility. “I don’t want to say I’m popular, but I do believe I hold more pressure now. I hold more responsibilities in what I share with the public because my community has grown. I don’t want to say, ‘She’s so famous,’ because I don’t really see it that way,” she explained.
The Cebu native also admitted that when she was eliminated from Pinoy Big Brother, she thought her career was over. But the overwhelming support from fans, endorsements, and show offers proved otherwise.
“The support that I got from the fans has been overwhelming. Until now, it has been two months, and I haven’t had the time to sit down and really process everything that has been happening. I’m just really enjoying it,” she shared.
Before entering show business, Shuvee revealed she struggled with insecurity about her morena complexion, but being accepted by her network helped her see beauty in herself.
“Since I was very young, I have been insecure about my skin color and complexion. However, my home network embraced me for who I am, so when they believed in me and made me feel loved even though I’m not perfect, I began to believe in myself as well. I realized I was beautiful too,” she recounted.
She stressed that beauty is not just about physical appearance. “I know I’m not everybody’s cup of tea when it comes to beauty. But I do believe I’m beautiful. For me, beauty isn’t just on the outside. You don’t just believe you’re beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside,” she continued.
Her growing influence has led to new partnerships, including her role as the first celebrity ambassador of Vivienne Vanity Lounge, a beauty and wellness brand specializing in nails and lashes.
The brand’s executives explained why they chose Shuvee. CEO Niel Patrick Guiban recalled how his daughters admired her.
“When my two daughters told me that they love Shuvee so much—imagine, coming from kids. It’s rare to have an inspiration. We value the people they look up to, and when I saw that in Shuvee, we decided to reach out,” he said.
COO Catherine Gayle Guiban, who followed Shuvee during her Pinoy Big Brother stint, added that authenticity made her a natural choice.
“The traits, personality, and authenticity we saw in the PBB house are what we value as business owners. We want to partner with people who share our values and beliefs. When I saw that she was true to herself, showing both good and bad, we accepted it. We know that people love her, and we’re very thankful to have this partnership with her,” she explained.
