CEBU, Philippines — Cassandra “KC” Reed is one of eight candidates vying for the Reina Filipina North America 2025 crown, a pageant that will select three representatives from the Filipino-American diaspora on the East Coast -- namely Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York -- to compete in Miss Universe Philippines 2025.
Based in New York, Reed is preparing for the tilt by reconnecting with her roots in Cebu, where she began modeling as a teenager. In 2019, she competed at Miss Teen Philippines-Central Visayas.
“The training here is an advantage for me. The way they train Cebuana beauty queens is hardcore, and I have a lot of support in Cebu. New York is big and quite intimidating, and I only resumed modeling last year, so my connections here in Cebu are really helpful,” the 21-year-old told The FREEMAN in an interview while she was in Cebu.
Reed trained under Dexter Alazas, her first manager who discovered her and included her in the roster of Admire Models Philippines.
“I have known Dexter for a decade now, and we developed a strong bond. I feel comfortable around him, and I can trust him to train me because I know he is rooting for me,” she shared.
- Adapting to different worlds -
Reed’s early years were spent in one place to another. Born in Hong Kong, she moved to Manila at six years old and then lived in Saudi Arabia for two years before settling in Cebu in 2014, where she completed high school.
She now lives in New York, pursuing a finance degree at PACE University, and is one semester away from graduating.
Because she moved around frequently at a young age, she initially struggled to adapt to contrasting worlds. Over time, she learned how to adjust to different environments.
“I was constantly picking up things from one place and then had to go somewhere new. There were so many pivotal moments in my life where I could’ve benefited from a consistent upbringing, but because of that, I learned that moving around shaped who I am as a person,” she said.
While she may be based in the Big Apple now, Reed considers Cebu her home, having spent the longest part of her life here.
“Cebu is definitely home for me after coming back from New York. It’s not much of a culture shock for me when I return because I adapted well to living here,” she said. “I love being a New Yorker, but when I get back here in Cebu, I don’t have to look for something else because everything here just feels like home.”
There are two sides of Reed. In New York, she adopts a tough demeanor to keep up with the city’s fast pace, while in Cebu, she relaxes into a more laid-back attitude.
“I learned how to switch between those two mindsets, which is great to possess. It’s a learning opportunity for me since I have a different vernacular and attitude in New York versus the Philippines,” she said.
“My personality is not really within the linear mindset. It has different branches to it because I was exposed to different cultures and people. I took parts of these places I grew up in and shaped them into who I am,” she added.
- From side hobby to full dedication -
Reed reflected on her teenage modeling days and her participation at Miss Teen Philippines-Central Visayas as more of a side hobby because she was focused on school that time. Despite this, she always felt it was a path she was destined to pursue.
“Modeling was something I initially saw as a side hobby since I needed to do something during the summer break. But I knew modeling was something that would find me back all the time, and that’s when I realized that it was meant for me,” she said.
After resuming modeling last year, Reed had to re-learn the craft in a different territory. She observed, “In the Philippines, modeling is high-energy and has a pageant outlook. In the States, it’s just walk and go. I had to learn to adjust to where I am.”
When asked about areas she was looking to improve on, Reed sees modeling as a constant learning process.
“There isn’t a stopping point where I can totally perfect a certain skill because there is always something I can work on, whether it’s my confidence, my walk, or my poses. It’s a learning opportunity every single time I am on stage or talk to someone in the modeling industry. It’s about learning and growing from those experiences,” she said.
Reed is looking forward to all the activities leading up to the coronation night of Reina Filipina, which will take place on January 19 (U.S. time) at the Palladium Times Square in New York City.
While some candidates may pinpoint specific segments they look forward to, such as the Q&A or pasarela, Reed said, “For me, it’s all about the overall process. The entire itinerary. That’s the enjoyable part of it.”
True to her dedication, Reed is open to taking a semester off — despite being close to graduation — if she is chosen to represent the Fil-Am community in New York at this year’s Miss Universe Philippines, which would demand her full attention.
She plans to advocate for human rights on the MUPH stage, inspired by her multicultural upbringing.
“When I was living in Saudi Arabia [before Mohammed bin Salman’s rule], I saw the struggles in women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. Here in the Philippines, I saw issues of class disparity. It’s why I want to advocate for human rights in the pageant,” she said.
Reed feels her background makes her a strong representative for both communities.
“I provide a unique perspective as a Fil-Am who grew up in Cebu because I get to see both sides. I feel like I am a great representative because I lived here for the majority of my life. I can represent not only Cebu but also the Fil-Ams in New York,” she added.