Timid, bullied teen finds her confidence in pageantry

CEBU, Philippines —  At 13 years old, Jashley Murro Van Hemelen has learned how to turn pain into power.

During her July 11 thanksgiving and victory party at El Jardin inside Montebello Villa Hotel, she was surrounded by family, friends, and supporters who all had a hand in her winning the Super Grand Prize for the international title of Teen Princess of the World 2019 last month at Albena Resort in Varna, Bulgaria.

Jashley not only took home the crown, she also bagged a gold medal in modelling, the Best National Costume Award, and the Albena Resort Choice Award.

The incoming Grade 8 student at the Singapore School Cebu earned the right to represent the Philippines after winning the Pre-Teen Princess Philippines title last December in Manila, where she was also awarded Best in Interview, Best in National Costume, Best in Casual Wear, and Reality Talk Choice Award.

These are all impressive feats, especially for someone as reserved as Jashley. The young lady was extremely shy, her voice barely audible during our interview. So what convinced her to put on a brave face and join the national qualifiers?

“[I joined because] it will develop my confidence,” Jashley quipped. “Being shy, it kind of affects me at school. I was scared that everyone would laugh at me for making a mistake. I want to at least show them that I can do more than just being the shy girl.”

The Filipina-Belgian narrated how this fear was rooted from the bullying she experienced from her previous school. Her classmates would laugh and call her dumb when she couldn’t get the answer right. While she endured the antagonism with patience, Jashley and her family opted for a change in environment when a classmate punched her in the arm.

“I wouldn’t do anything. I would just go and sit quietly. If it affects me, I would go to my mom. I wouldn’t want to make it a big deal,” she said.

Jashley – she is the only child on her mom’s side and has three elder siblings from her dad’s side – mentioned that part of the reason she decided to join pageants was because she wanted to make her family proud.

During the party, Jashley tried to keep the tears from coming when talking about her family. She said that before pageantry, she “didn’t do much” and was somehow overwhelmed because she did them proud by winning not one, but two titles.

Jashley trained under Blinky de Leon’s Self Esteem Learning Formation Institute (SELFi) and was later on introduced to fashion designer Danny Booc of OZAR Models Philippines. Booc, who has groomed title-holders like Binibining Cebu 2017 Apriel Smith and Binibining Cebu Heritage 2018 Lou Dominique Piczon, animatedly shared how challenging it was to coax Jashley out of her shell. He soon realized that while the young lady was timid, she also knew how to put on a great show.

“Models and beauty queens are not born. They are made,” said Booc, entertaining guests at the party with his anecdotes on Jashley’s journey.

“Jashley was very shy. Na challenge gyud ko niya. Kay dili gyud siya mutingog. But iyaha diay i-input diri ug diri,” Booc said, pointing towards his heart and mind.

Booc recalled how Team Philippines was a bit intimidated with the competition which was mainly comprised of doll-like European beauties with blond hair and blue eyes.

While there was a bit of pressure knowing that her Princess Philippines 2018 batch mates from Cebu – Sarah Nicole Filtness (Pre-Teen Miss Universe) and Kasley Malaika Libres (Teen Miss Universe first runner-up) finished strong in their respective competitions, Jashley took this all in stride, saying, “As queens, we never lose. We either win or we learn.”

Jashley worried about the question and answer segment the most, and asked the help of last year’s Teen Princess of the World winner and fellow Cebuana, Keena Shanelle Allison Sularte.

She not only managed a back-to-back win for Cebu, but also made friends with the candidates from Botswana who spoke English well, and Japan for her wonderful sense of humor.

“Going to Europe, I was very excited since it was my first time. When we arrived, I got nervous and scared because the other girls were prettier than me,” the five-foot-three beauty said.

Jashley loves sports like badminton and swimming, but she is most passionate about soccer. She is also fond of baking and cooking, as well as watching romantic comedies and sad stories. Her favorite subject is Science, which would come in handy since Jashley aspires to become a pediatrician.

“I love being surrounded by kids. I have so many nephews and a niece. Kids, whenever they come near me, I just have this feeling,” she explained.

After Teen Princess of the World, Jashley would like to focus on sports and her studies. She hopes to return to the pageant scene when she’s 16 (and much more taller by then!).

From a girl who was painfully bashful, Jashley has grown more confident in expressing herself. 

“I’m comfortable talking to people. Sometimes, I answer in school,” she said. “I don’t care anymore if they laugh at me.”

To those who tried to dull her shine, Jashley wants to say “Thank you” because they pushed her to try even harder. As for those who are being pushed around like she was, she tells them to dream big and surround themselves with people who matter.

“You should always follow your dreams, [be] in the right path with people who support and love you.”