I could not take my eyes off Billie Hakenson from the moment I saw her. Maybe it’s because of her hair, makeup, outfit, beauty, anything that is physical… But no, it was not those. A captivating aura that apprises she is one of a kind is what naturally drove me to support her from that moment up to this day.
It is easy to be mesmerized by the other candidates’ beauty and wit but the heart chooses the one who makes it beat and for me, it is Billie. And yes, it is also easy to call yourself a fan of her or anyone, but I think I am not just a fan who supports for I am a BILLIEver who looks up to her. Thus, I admire her for six reasons that uniquely spell out her name, Billie which are beaming, intelligent, loving, lavish, inspiring, and empowering.
Beaming. She is like a star that shines radiantly in the sky. I admire this about her because she effortlessly stands out in Miss Universe Philippines; from her beauty which is incontestably uncommon but exceptional, her hair that broke the norms of pageantry, her signature walks and poses that I sometimes try to imitate as it is remarkable, and her authenticity as she shows herself and cleverly answers the questions thrown at her. I instantly felt that she speaks her mind and heart, and that is what made her real. Aside from that, she smiles so brightly that changes my bad mood and tiring feeling right away. She is a ray of sunshine who brings positivity to my daily life and a magnificent rainbow to my plain and simple cloud. Moreover, I admire how she can pull off any style, and be classy and “jologs” at the same time. It just proves that she is unique, and can work on any personality and look. And of course, I would not forget how her singing voice is distinct. I know that she does not bring up this talent often, but I certainly believe that it is calming and soothing. If given a chance, I would like her voice to be my alarm tone. It would be another reason to wake up every morning.
Intelligent. Well, the definition of intelligence is very wide as there are various types of it such as logical-mathematical, existential, linguistic, intrapersonal, and so on. Nevertheless, Billie is doubtlessly intelligent in so many ways and aspects. First, I admire how well she gets along with different people as I have known that she is an introvert if I’m not mistaken. I just think that it is both a gift and an intellect to know how to accommodate people with diverse attitudes and relate with them. Second, I believe that choosing to be aware of situations around you is a form of intelligence, and Billie does that. She does not hesitate to open her eyes and mind to the pertinent matters that happen around her. Also, she is insightful in terms of social, economic, cultural, environmental as well as political issues. She speaks with eloquence and relevance through imparting new vocabulary and understanding about many subjects to her audience. Additionally, it is truly admirable how she uses her voice to speak for the people who are oppressed and marginalized. Hence, she expresses herself not through what people want to hear, but through what her heart wants to speak. Lastly, she has a strong sense of self. Billie knows her strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities, and through that, she deals with her imperfection brilliantly as she strives to be better.
Loving. As what others tell, love is what keeps us going and I am confident that it is one of the things that pushed Billie to become who she is today. She loves her family as she cares for their safety, most especially during the pandemic and the calamities that have happened. Although I may not know Billie personally, I think that she is a loving daughter and sister to her family and they are one of the reasons why she worked hard in her life. Also, I admire how Billie loves the people in general, her country, the world, or the universe rather. Even though she does not tell it verbally, I can feel that she truly cares as her action speaks louder about her intentions to inform and educate people. Furthermore, one word; self-love. It’s admirable how she is self-aware, and accepting of her true colors. I believe that the love that she gave and continues to give to herself became and still becomes her fuel to share every good thing that she has with other people.
Lavish. Generosity is the habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return. I love this about Billie because ever since she has a heart of gold. As I have watched her old interviews, it was stated by one of her educators that before, Billie has helped some pageant candidates out of kindness. Aside from that, she likes doing donation drives to help people whenever there are catastrophes. And now, she continues to give not just physical items but also things that are priceless like comfort, stories, and experiences that inspire, and knowledge through the influence and platform that she has. Truly, she has the humility, initiative, and a big heart to help.
Inspiring. There is no doubt that Billie is an inspiration to anyone who has a dream for herself and for her nation. As mentioned in one of her interviews, she has been a working student before which proves that ever since she has been a persevering person. As she graduated, she maintained that perseverance in her work as a flight attendant and her dream to be crowned as Miss World Philippines 2019 and Miss Universe Philippines 2020. Although she was not crowned, she still served her purpose to inspire not just the aspiring beauty queens but also the simple girls like me who have a dream to be an inspiration too. Apart from being hardworking, Billie is also passionate, both in her work and pageantry. She loves helping and assisting people and being a part of other people’s journeys as she works as a flight attendant. And I can see how passionate she is not only on her pasarela and question and answer portions but also on inspiring, empowering, and amplifying voices. Nonetheless, she has been a role model as she leveled up the definition of a modern Filipina.
Empowering. Honestly, this is what I admire the most about Billie. She is bold, fearless, brave, and courageous to speak the truth and raise awareness in spite of the possibility to be judged and pulled down by ignorant and close-minded people. She remained true to her purpose and holds herself responsible to inform and empower people especially women without fear. I admired her determination to encourage us and make us open our eyes to the truth and not be blinded again by the norms set by society. And personally, the impact that she had given to me is something I am most grateful for. I have never been more inspired and empowered like this. She truly amplified my voice and increased my desire to serve my purpose in life. Billie influenced me to be hungry for knowledge, experiences, truth, and justice. Not only my love and admiration for her grows every day but also, I, myself as a human being. She truly emboldens me to be better, and be aware of myself, others, and my environment. And now, I slowly do little steps towards the goals I have in life. Without a doubt, she does not only embody change but also lives her advocacy to be a face of empowerment.
Additionally, I just also want to express how thankful I am for Billie. Through her, I have found a famBILLIE, a group of supporters named BILLIEvers. To be honest, I’m not a person who likes having new people in life, but they have been an exception for they became my rest in a long and exhausting day. I may not be vocal and active, but I appreciate their existence and all the efforts and fun banters they have done and said. Also, I thank Billie because, through her, I have known Atty. JV who have also influenced me to become more interested and engaged in relevant subjects.
Indeed, Billie fulfills the meaning of her name which is a resolute protector. Resolute describes a purposeful, strong, and determined person. Hence, I can say that she is more than the glam, pasarela, sash, and title as she manifests that a woman can be whoever she aspires to be as long as she knows her purpose, and has the strength and determination to do so. Truly, Billie does not need a crown to be called a queen because she has a heart of one. And if one would ask me why I admire Billie in one sentence, I would say, “I BILLIEve in her because she made me BILLIEve in myself too.”
