Venus Raj Offers Miss U Bid to Late Beauty Queen

CEBU, Philippines - Venus Raj, the country’s bet to this year’s Miss Universe pageant, said that she is “more determined” to win the title after learning about the sudden passing of her fellow beauty titleholder, Melody Gersbach, ABS-CBN reported.

“I’m sure gugustuhin ni Melody (Gersbach) na ituloy ko ito...I’m dedicating this Miss Universe to her,” an emotional Raj was quoted as telling ABS-CBN.

The former Bb. Pilipinas-International Gersbach, who made it in the Top 15 of the Miss International pageant in China last year, was on her way to attend the screening of Miss Bicolandia as one of the judges.

She died on the spot after their car collided with a bus in Bula Town, Camarines Sur, together with her make-up artist and discoverer Alden Orense and driver Santos Ramos Jr.

According to reports, Gersbach was the one who pushed Raj, a fellow former Miss Bicolandia, to join Bb. Pilipinas.