A success story for crewmen: Overstayed...

to file for and get her provisional waiver approved. Despite several hurdles, including the delays due to the pandemic, the embassy interview was finally set.

Although the U.S. Embassy gave her a challenging time with multiple interviews and additional requirements, Julie was still able to get her visa issued in September 2022 without being charged with fraud or requiring a fraud waiver. She was also able to bring her now 26-year-old daughter, Jolina, to the U.S. with her under the Child Status Protection Act.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, May 14 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

‘I feel lucky to be Filipino’: Miss Universe...

people are so hospitable! They are so welcoming, they are so charming, so funny, have the best food, but most of all, the best hearts. So I feel very blessed. Thank you so much for welcoming me here.”

In her speech, she emphasized how lucky she is to be half-Filipino. She is the first Miss USA with a Filipino descent.

“I am half Filipina, half American. I feel quite lucky to be Filipino because I would say you’re one of the best countries that compete and one of the best countries that I would say put our all into pageants. The Filipino people have given me so much support as I trained for Miss Texas, as I trained for Miss USA and for Miss Universe. And so I would like to thank you for the love and support.”

She confessed that MUPH is among the pageants that motivated her to train hard.

“I remember watching Miss Philippines (MUPH) last year and I thought, ‘Wow, the competition is so amazing!’ Production was so inspiring. The level of women that compete was top-tiered. I remembered, I haven’t even won a pageant yet, back home in Texas,” she recalled.

“I would like to thank everybody for the continued inspiration. Not long ago, I was competing, and I some girls here have been competing for some time now, a few months, I’ve been seeing you on social media. I can tell that there’s so much hard work that goes into this and I just want to commend all the girls who put themselves out there.”

Similarly, she encouraged others to also try joining pageants.

“Pageantry has changed my life like no other. That really pushed me to be the highest truest form of myself and I know all these girls have their own unique journey.”

She thanked the new Miss Universe owner, JKN Global, and MUPH franchise owner, Empire Philippines, “for continuing to elevate me and all the other women that come across this stage.”

“You’re a part of the beautiful journey that helps us move forward,” she said.

According to her, she has about a week in the country to explore and to bond with more Kababayans g