1. Venus Raj represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant and placed 4th Runner-up.
22 Facts About Venus Raj
1. 2.
Maria Venus Bayonito Raj was born in Doha, Qatar, to an Indian-American father and a Filipino mother, the youngest of five children.
3.
Venus Raj came to the Philippines while still an infant and was raised in Bato, Camarines Sur.
4.
Venus Raj allegedly used rice paddy dikes for her early training, where she eventually developed her distinctive walk.
5.
Venus Raj started out by joining local beauty pageants, as well as oratorical contests at San Vicente High School, where her English teacher served as her coach.
6.
Venus Raj obtained her bachelor's degree in communication arts, major in journalism, at Bicol University in Legazpi City, with Latin honors.
7.
Venus Raj graduated through the scholarship that she received from the Francis Papica Foundation.
8.
Venus Raj initially worked as an Information Assistant for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for Bicol Region.
9.
In 2017, Venus Raj completed her master's degree in community development from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
10.
In June 2021, Venus Raj graduated from Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, Oxford, England.
11.
On December 12,2023, Venus Raj married her boyfriend named North Orillan.
12.
Venus Raj first competed in Miss Philippines Earth 2008 where she was crowned as Miss Philippines Eco Tourism 2008.
13.
Venus Raj won the special awards for Best in Long Gown, Best in Philippine Terno, and Miss Friendship.
14.
Venus Raj gained the right to represent the Philippines at the 2010 Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.
15.
However, due to increasing public pressure and the ensuing intervention of the Miss Universe Organization under Donald Trump, national director Stella Araneta and the country's Department of Foreign Affairs made an agreement with Venus Raj to reinstate her to the national title upon making an exception to grant her a Philippine passport.
16.
Venus Raj eventually travelled in August 2010 to Las Vegas, United States and became the official Philippine delegate to the competition.
17.
Venus Raj was one of six delegates who were handpicked for a media tour, Venus Raj, along with Jesinta Campbell of Australia, Natalia Navarro of Colombia, Sarodj Bertin of Haiti, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico, Mariana Vicente of Puerto Rico and Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez were scheduled for several television appearances prior to the actual pageant in Las Vegas.
18.
Venus Raj received the highest rating in the Miss Universe website, with 3.54 points, the highest-ever for a Philippine delegate.
19.
Venus Raj was the last delegate to be announced to the Top 15, signalling both an end to a 10-year semifinal drought for the Philippines and the beginning of its streak of appearances at Miss Universe during the live finale up to 2021 - the country's longest in its history on the pageant.
20.
Venus Raj eventually finished in the Top 5 as 4th runner-up to winner Navarrete from Mexico, marking the Philippines' highest placement at Miss Universe since Miriam Quiambao placed second in the competition in 1999.
21.
Prior and after Miss Universe, Venus Raj guested on multiple networks as guests.
22.
In 2011, Venus Raj signed up an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN, coinciding with the network gaining the airing rights of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant for at least five years.