Who Is Maria Venus Raj?

Maria Venus Raj was born out of wedlock in Doha Qatar.Upon separation of her parents, Maria Venus Raj was taken to Bato, Camarines Sur as an infant and was registered by an aunt as Philippine-born to Roman Catholic parents. Her mother was a former tenant farmer and dressmaker who brought Maria Venus Raj up as a child. Maria Venus Raj lived in a nipa hut made of wood, bamboo and anahaw leaves with no electricity in the middle of a sprawling rice field in the rural Bato town for more than twenty years. She allegedly used rice paddy dikes for her early training where she eventually developed her distinct catwalk. The youngest among five children, Maria Venus Raj started joining local beauty pageants at 17 years old. She also joined oratorical contests at San Vicente High School where her english teacher served as her coach. With her victories in major contests, Venus Raj had started to buy land on installment basis for her mother as a means of improving their livelihood.

Maria Venus Raj obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Communications Arts, major in Journalism, at Bicol University in Albay, with Latin Honors (Cum Laude). She graduated through the scholarship that she received from Francis Papica Foundation. Back in the Philippines, she works as an Information Assistant for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region V. She also works as a part-time fashion model.

Venus competed with more than 80 stunning ladies and received overwhelming support not just from the Philippines but also from the Filipino community in Las Vegas. To recall, the 21-year-old Bicolana was briefly dethroned after Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Incorporated (BPCI) discovered inconsistencies with the information she disclosed to the organizers and the papers she submitted for the competition. But later on the BPCI retracted their decision and reinstalled her as the representative to the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas. And finally Venus make it to the top five and bring pride to our country being the 4^th runner of the recently held pageant in Las Vegas. The Filipinos are really proud of you. Congratulations!