Laura Lehmann: Beauty with a Purpose

When we brought up the topic to our March 2018 #CalyxtaGirl about her advocacy of opening the first milk bank in Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center when she joined Miss World, her eyes instantly lit up as she began animatedly talking about it. It was definitely an advocacy close to her heart, and one that she chose because she wanted sustainability in improving the hospital and its facilities.

To wrap up this month’s cover on Laura Lehmann, we talked more about her Beauty with a Purpose award while coupling her last layout with a look that perfectly embodies our Beauty Undone campaign and getting unready with our Calyxta Girl.

Read more about her advocacy and what she’s most excited about this year.

How is it like winning the Beauty with a purpose award? Did you see that coming?

No. I think because they post the Beauty with a Purpose videos on YouTube, I’ve watched from 2016 and the ones from 2015—and some of them had really good projects. So you never know what you’re going to be up against! When I started seeing the others, I was like, “Wow, it’s really good!” The country’s really worked to make good projects, so it wasn’t something that I expected. But it was something that I wanted, because I really worked hard for that project.

Was it wanting to be a doctor that inspired you to choose your project?

Yeah, yeah. And I think I said a lot about that in the video. I think you have to choose a project that you’re connected to. And there were a lot of projects offered to me first that were really good, and would’ve gotten really great feedback, but if you don’t feel connected to it, it’s so hard to do it. Like, for example, somebody offered something about going green, or something about agriculture in the village, and it was really feasible and really easy to do, but I know nothing about it. So it was hard for me to do it. And I think another problem that happened was some of the other countries, maybe the wealth of the countries in Europe or in North America, it’s so easy for them to choose a project because it stands out. But with the Philippines, there are so many things. There are so many issues, and people were coming forth with issues, and it was so hard for me to say, “Okay, I pick this issue.” For me, it was so hard to pick a project because we have so many problems. In a way, I felt guilty because how do you tell someone that their project is more worthy of your time than others—you can’t. Sometimes, you just have to close your eyes and choose which one, because there are so many projects that I could’ve done. That was the hardest part.

The project that you started—is that something that you’re constantly doing now, or that you hope other queens would continue? Because I saw that you started it but you’re hoping that more and more will continue it?

Yeah, one of the reasons that I chose it is because I know that every year, the Miss World Philippines does a project, and it’s always different. I think the Miss World before me did something about Smokey Mountains, and the girl before that did something about medical supplies, and it’s good, you know? They do their projects, but the problem is when the one-year reign ends, their project also ends. So there’s no continuity and there’s no sustainability. You can’t really see the effects of the project if you just stop after one year. With my idea, if we pick something and stick with it for five years, then at the end of five years you really see what changed. That’s also one of the reasons I chose the hospital because for my year, if we work on the milk bank, next year, the next queen can work on the cancer ward, and the next one can work on the nursery and the elderly ward. There’s so many to choose from. And then when the five years is complete, the hospital will be so much better! I wanted sustainability.

What other advocacies would you like to pursue or be a voice for?

I think just anything. I feel lucky that I’m in a position to say something because people listen to you. But if there’s something else I would like to talk about, I guess, maybe because I was in the sports world and I was playing sports and courtsiding, I really saw what sports can do to people. It makes their life fuller, it gives them something to do, it’s a distraction to things that are negative, and it pushes them in the right direction. So, if there’s another thing I’d like to do, it’s something related to that. Just making sure that the kids stay active, that they play sports. I think it’s healthy, not only for your body, but also for you mind.

Five years from now, where do you think you’ll be?

This is so hard! (laughs) In five years, how old will I be? I’ll be in my mid-20s. Well, right now, after the whole beauty pageant thing, I want to continue hosting because that’s really what I like to do and that’s where I started. So for me, my ultimate goal is I want to host not just in the Philippines, but also more internationally—like for Asian countries and for Asian shows like Asia’s Next Top Model! I’d like to do that sort of stuff and make sure that there’s a Filipina host hosting Asian shows.

What about your dream of being a doctor?

Well, I think for now it has died because sometimes, when you become a doctor, it’ll take a lot of time. My boyfriend’s sister, she’s 33 but she’s still studying. So, if I start now, I’m going to end when I’m like 40. So, it’s going to be a difficult dream. But, I think also I realized that I can, when you’re a doctor—you help people get better. But when you’re a beauty queen, you make people happy. So, you’re helping them in a way, so I’d like to think that in a way we’re like doctors.

What are you most excited about for 2018?

Well, I’m excited to get back into hosting because I’m really happy about my pageant journey that it has been fulfilled, so I really want to go back to hosting and grow as a host. So, that’s what I want to do this year!

Last question. What do you think was the most valuable lesson you learned from your journey in pageantry?

There are a lot of lessons. (laughs) But what I would like to say is—you really have to do something that you love and something that you’re passionate about because if you don’t, I don’t think you would do as good. So when you do something that you really love, when you wake up every day, it won’t feel like you’re going to the office or it won’t feel like you’re going to work, and I think that’s the secret to success—when you’re doing something that you like because you’re happy and you’re not stressed!