i-Listen with Kara David: From tv extra to beauty queen, how Joy Barcoma rose above it all

I-LISTEN WITH KARA DAVID:

FROM TV EXTRA TO BEAUTY QUEEN, HOW JOY BARCOMA ROSE ABOVE IT ALL

Stream on GMA Public Affairs YouTube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts

She may be known for her viral humor and bold personality, but there’s more to Joy Barcoma than what people see online. In the upcoming episode of i-Listen, Joy also known as “Jusa” shares her real story. From her viral pageant moments to becoming Miss Earth 2025, she shows how staying true to herself set her apart.

Behind the crown is a life shaped by hardship. Joy talks about growing up in poverty. From eating makeshift meals and working as a child to earning as little as ₱300 a day as a TV extra, she reveals the emotional weight of becoming the “ate” and provider at a young age.  “I felt like I had no right to be tired,” she says.

In her conversation with Kara David, Joy opens up about how these experiences shaped her values, her advocacy, and her goal to make pageantry more real and inclusive. This is the story behind the laughter, and why so many Filipinos see themselves in her journey.