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Samantha Lo opens up about Miss Grand Int'l journey, says it let her experience love and kindness
Days after bowing out early from the Miss Grand International pageant in Venezuela, Samantha Lo turned vulnerable on Instagram, sharing how she battled through negative thoughts and feelings all throughout her pageant journey.
On Instagram, the beauty queen posted a two-part series sharing her "thoughts and feelings" after going through complications with her travel documents.
RELATED: Ms. Grand Int’l bet Samantha Lo has no passport record with DFA —official
"It is safe to say that thousands know the story of what happened to me along my journey to the crown but only a handful know the thoughts and feelings I experience everyday," Samantha began.
The beauty queen shared how "thoughts and feelings that barge into my head everyday like uninvited guests making themselves at home and turning everything upside down and scattered in the process."
She continued and said that she always had the "fear that someone is going to take me and the thought that “I am a failure" are the two most common uninvited guests that love to show up frequently during the day."
Despite everything, Samantha chose to see the bright side. Her journey, she said, allowed her to experience love and kindness from people around the world.
"But there was a new guest that showed up, and they showed up by the hundreds of thousands. Physical people, from around the world, warmly embracing me with words of kindness," she wrote.
She continued with her post and thanked each and every significant person who has helped her get through the pageant.
"To these people I want to say thank you for your love and compassion, you have inspired me to keep fighting. I am the product of your butterfly effect," she wrote.
Samantha had a document mix-up while en route to Miss Grand International in Venezuela. In Paris, she was told she had to fly back home, before she rushed back again to make it to Caracas, right on the dot.
She eventually bowed out early. Miss Venezuela was crowned as the winner of the pageant.
Read her touching message below:
It is safe to say that thousands know the story of what happened to me along my journey to the crown but only a handful know the thoughts and feelings I experience everyday.
Thoughts and feelings that barge into my head everyday like uninvited guests making themselves at home and turning everything upside down and scattered in the process.
The fear that someone is going to take me and the thought that “I am a failure" are the two most common uninvited guests that love to show up frequently during the day.
But there was a new guest that showed up, and they showed up by the hundreds of thousands. Physical people, from around the world, warmly embracing me with words of kindness. Letting me know that I am not doing this alone, that I am loved and I have inspired, that I am special.
To these people I want to say thank you for your love and compassion, you have inspired me to keep fighting. I am the product of your butterfly effect.
To my family, thank you for always protecting me in any circumstance. For being the foundation of the morale I carry in life and for teaching me that if we receive hate we do not send hate back, we send back understanding, compassion, and justice.
To Madam Stella Araneta, thank you for trusting me to carry the title of Binibining Pilipinas Grand international, for seeing my potential to perform in this competition. Mr. @nawat.tv and Ms. @teresa.mgi , thank you for giving me the opportunity to compete and showcase my country, on your stage, to the world. Thank you for allowing me to fulfill my dreams -- your kindness will never be forgotten.
To the head of my team @mikeeandrei, thank you for taking care of me as your own since day one. For always sitting with us through the good and the bad and helping me see the blessing in every situation. @jonasempire.ph and @sigulanon, it was you both who discovered me and saw my potential, you both who fostered me through this industry and guided me to where I am today.
@carissacielomedved, @iammjrone, @raymsgalang, @theleiponce, @davegrona, @lourdramos thank you for all of your dedication and hard work, for always making me look nothing less than my best for every occasion.
@raus1983 and @_jeffersonsi, the perfect duo. No matter how busy you both were you never failed to deliver and always go above and beyond what you promised. Thank you both for your trust to wear your designs and allowing me to show case it proudly to the world.
@edwinfuy, I am so proud of you. Together we were able to showcase the diverse culture of our country to the world in such a beautiful way, in that there is a victory.
@bessiebesana, you are a joy to work with, thank you for always opening your home to me, for wiping away every worry I had and reassuring me that everything is going to be ok. @christophermunar, next to your shining jewelry is your shining smile which I love seeing every time I go to work. Thank you for taking the time in carefully pairing each look with your beautiful accessories.
@froilandosdosen and @misskeithmanila, thank you for designing and styling me so that I may go to Venezuela elegant and poised for every occasion. It is not just the skill and talent you both possess but your joy and happiness you bring to the work place, that is what I love most when working with you guys.
To @dyanbugay and @mardygraaaah, thank you for extending your talent and skills to me in helping me showcase the history of the Philippines to the world.
Special thanks to @katarinarodri and Urban luggages for accommodating me with all of my luggages.
To my sponsors, @bristolmotorcyclesphilippines and ATPI thank you for your continuous support as I embarked on my journey for this competition.
Philippines, its been a hell of a ride. I'll see you on the next one. ????
Your Miss Grand Philippines 2019,
Samantha Ashley Lo
