Growing up was not easy for half-Norwegian, half-Filipino Kirby Ann Basken. Born and raised in Norway, Kirby feels she “was torn between two countries — not feeling at home in any of them.” It took her a crown to realize that she could be at home in both the Philippines and Norway. After all, she was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International in 2006 and a year after, the 5’ 91/2” looker represented Norway in the Ms. Universe pageant. In a span of two years, Kirby had represented her two home countries in separate international beauty pageants — quite an achievement for a 22-year-old.
“Being a beauty queen has helped me accept myself more, not when it comes to looks, but to where I belong. After winning a title in each country, I understood and felt that I was accepted in both the Philippines and Norway. So now, I can proudly say that I have two home countries,” gushes Kirby, who admits she was really shy before but learned to be more outgoing and sociable. She adds that these events in her young and interesting life enriched her with more wonderful people and experiences.
With success comes great responsibility. And Kirby is one who keeps both her feet on the ground. “But aim for the sky,” she says, quoting her father, Geir Basken, who is her best teacher in the humility department. Kirby, a Mass Communications student in Hellerud VGS School in Norway, is determined to reach for her goals in life whatever challenges she needs to overcome. This go-getter attitude is what Kirby learned from her mom, economy advisor Grace Vasquez. “You can be whatever you want to be; your biggest challenge is yourself,” is her mom’s exact words to her.
“I also love writing,” shares Kirby, who considers Journalism her favorite subject. “I also like experiencing new things and places. Nothing is more interesting than seeing new cultures.”
When she was a kid, she wanted to be an astronaut because “I thought I could collect the stars and have them in my room.” Now, she doesn’t need to. After she’s earned titles for herself, Kirby is already a star in her own right. — Jerni May H. Camposano