Pinay in Dubai goes from selling 'bagoong' to being beauty queen

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A 36-year-old Cebuana who used to sell anything from hand-me-downs to gold, bags, accessories, even the lowly anchovies during tough times, has recently won at a major beauty pageant that qualified her to represent the Philippines on an international stage.

“Excited na po, but sobrang kinabahan kasi it's really big and ang dami namin from different countries,” said Dubai-based Vevherly Camiguing Gador, a licensed criminologist who got her degree from University of Cebu – Main Campus.

(I am already excited and also quite nervous because the event is really big and there will be many of us competing.)

A single mom of a 13-year-old girl, Gador will be the Philippines’ bet for the upcoming Mrs. Universe 2024 to be held in Korea from October 2 to 10 this year. Coronation will be on the 9th.

Gador won the Mrs. Universe Philippines title over 11 candidates during the competition held at Dusit Thani Hotel - Makati City in late August, qualifying her for the next big thing. Having been back in Dubai, and to her day job as executive admin at a steel industries company, Gador said she has been preparing in the past weeks for the event.

“The preparations are a lot, like physical, wardrobe selection, mental and emotional, stage presence, walk and ramp walk, public speaking, as well as question and answer,” she said.

“I am doing it daily, especially the talking and self-presentation part, like the look and aura.”

Contributed photo

Hard life

Gador, eldest daughter of a military officer and a farmer mom, used to live in “a very remote area in the middle of the forest with  no neighbors and no electricity,” she said, referring to Bgy. Lawaan, in Alcantara, Cebu.

“I grew up in a very simple, hard life. But it was a great training that made me who I have become. There were no friends to mingle with; just me, my little siblings  and my dogs, pigs, chickens  cats and goats,” she said.

A contestant during the first season of GMA 7’s “Survivor” reality show, Gador was also in different jobs to support herself through college, and beauty contests were not new to her. “I did part-time modelling, joined pageants, worked in a fast food chain and call center to sustain some of my school allowances,” she said. 

After obtaining her license as criminologist, Gador worked at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as civil aviation security inspector, but had to quit after a year and three months due to spinal health issues.

First Dubai stint

She first came to Dubai in 2015 and worked as airport security. “It was tough,” said Gador, “I was working for 12 to 13 hours standing, and that triggered my spine issues again.” She resigned in February  2017 and went back home.

She later on found job as cruise ship security, which gave her a chance to see the world while enjoying good compensation. “I was really happy with that even if the job was really tough. I was able to provide for my family and daughter,” Gador said.

But again, spinal issues kept bugging her and got bad. Worse, the COVID-19 pandemic came and she lost her job, leaving her at a quandary with no income and a lot of expenses, including therapy for her medical condition and her daughter’s schooling.

“No income and no one to run to, so my daughter and I went selling anything  from ukay-ukay (hand-me-downs) to bags, accessories, gold and bagoong (anchovies). We survived with the little money left from when I still had a job, but it was all gone because I had no work for almost two years,” Gador shared.

Worst was not over yet because a very strong typhoon, Odette, which barreled through Cebu with winds up to 280 kph on Dec. 16, 2021, badly damaged their house.    

“I can still recall sitting  in my room, thinking how I could repair my home. Where to work? Who I could borrow money from to buy food? All worries filled my head as I was especially thinking about Stephanie, my daughter,” Gador said.

Beam of hope

She added: “But God's promises were amazing. I was feeling so helpless, then suddenly, a beam of hope. An old friend offered me to visit Dubai again if I wanted, and without hesitation I said ‘yes.’” 

Gador arrived in Dubai for the second time on December 30, 2021. “I left my typhoon-beaten home and poor Steph, unsure of what's waiting for me in Dubai again because I was on a visit visa,” she said. Stephanie was left to the care of Gador’s mom.

“I was scared but still full of faith that everything would be fine,” Gador said.

Gador landed a job as admin secretary at a real estate company on January 15, 2022. She transferred to her present job in September 2023. 

Things are now looking good for Gador, who is also preparing to launch a beauty product, events and clothing business, as well as do wellness product endorsements.

Best of all, Stephanie is with her.

Gador was grand winner at Miss Pinay Expat 2022, Mrs. Philippines UAE 2023 and the current Mrs. Universe Philippines 2024.  

“I joined, at first, to explore UAE and for the prizes I got from it. Later on, I wanted  a bigger achievement and on an international stage. I feel so blessed, great and nostalgic, at the same time, because it's like a remake of my winnings during my younger years,” Gador said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News