Franki Russell going back to showbiz, but not closing door to pageantry
Reality TV star, actress and beauty queen Franki Russell had her first official appearance before members of the media after her stint in the 2024 Miss Cosmo pageant about four months since the international contest.
She faced journalists and online content creators in an intimate gathering to share some of her thoughts about her life after that surprise turn to pageantry at her launch as the face of Filipino beauty brand held at the House of Yugen office at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 12.
While she has not closed her doors to pageantry, Russell shared that she will return to show business via a new TV series.
“I saw Boss Vic [Del Rosario, Viva head] last week. I visited the Viva office after 10 months. Because I was focusing on pageantry last year,” she shared.
When INQUIRER.net asked what made her say “wow” most recently, she confessed that it is one of her favorite words. “I always say that, I’m always easily impressed,” she said.
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“It could be breakfast this morning, ‘oh wow!’ It’s always a wow moment. There are more things to be excited about in life. Every little milestone, it’s important to be excited, and celebrate your milestones,” continued the Filipino-Kiwi “Pinoy Big Brother” alumna.
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Russell was supposed to represent New Zealand in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico. But life has a way of throwing curveballs, and she found herself carrying the Oceanian nation’s flag in Vietnam for the first Miss Cosmo competition instead.
There, the pageant newbie got to share a room with seasoned aspirant and frontrunner Ahtisa Manalo of the Philippines, who she said should have placed higher. Russell advanced to the Top 21, and even took home the national costume award for a creation made by a Filipino student. Not bad for a first-timer in beauty contests.
But not everything was favorable about her venture into pageantry. She received harsh criticism from netizens online, telling her she was not cut out to be a beauty queen. That period in her life only unveiled how resolute Russell is.
She used the transformative power of recognizing one’s own worth amid all the noise, and radiated positivity. This journey of hers was what fueled the main message of her new campaign.
“As you saw on the [television commercial], real glow comes from the inside. So I feel like embracing that aura of positive energy, good vibes, manifesting that side of life, that oozes out of you when you glow,” Russell shared.
Russell will also have a busy Valentine weekend, flying with a “special someone” overseas. “I’m really excited, because I’ve never been to Korea. So tomorrow I’m flying. I like BlackPink, and K-Pop, and K barbecues. I’m so excited!” she exclaimed.