MANILA, Philippines — It would have been a check on singer Kiana Valenciano’s bucket list to walk the ramp in an international fashion show. But according to her mother and manager Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, her daughter was robbed of that chance after she and six other Filipino models were barred from joining one in Los Angeles.
Seven Filipinas, including Valenciano and former Miss Earth Jamie Herell, flew all the way from Manila to Los Angeles after being invited to walk the runway for the opening of the prestigious LA Fashion Week at The MacArthur last Monday. They were supposed to showcase the pieces of two top Filipino designers, Resty Lagare and Rocky Gathercole, as well as Elie Madi.
However, to their surprise, the Filipino models were denied access to the backstage of the show.
Kiana and Angeli found the situation “ironic” as the show was set to feature Filipino designers. Angeli also wondered if it was a height issue.
“It's confusing that the designers Rocky Gathercole and Resty Lagare were Filipinos and they couldn’t have Filipina models,” Kiana said in a recorded video posted by her mom.
“No Filipinos allowed to walk on the ramp! We want to ask WHY? It was bad enough that you didn’t want to allow the girls but was there a need to publicly humiliate them? And there were only three designers on that 9pm slot. And two were Filipino - Rocky Gathercole and Resty Lagare. Filipino models could not walk for the Filipino designers?” Angeli wrote in a separate Instagram post.
Designers walk out LA Fashion Week to protest rejection
Due to the incident, For the Stars Fashion House founder Jacob Meir, who invited the Filipina models, refused to let the designers continue the fashion show as he would not allow the show to go on without Filipino models.
Angeli said she was saddened that her daughter could not join because she was invited for a very special cause, a fundraiser for the AIDS Foundation.
The disappointed manager said they moved schedules and appointments to make it to the event because Meir and his partner Filipina Mildred Deang personally called them. She cited that most of the Filipinas and designers traveled from various places, including Manila, Las Vegas, San Diego and Kuwait.
“God bless the organizer nonetheless and I pray this never happens to his daughter, son, niece or nephew,” Angeli said.
Despite the unfortunate incident, Angeli is thankful that Meir, Gathercole and Lagare stood by the Filipinas. She said it was Mier’s personal choice to fight for the Filipinos.
"I believe however that everything happens for a reason and that God has better plans for Kiana. In behalf of Manila Genesis and Kiana, Gary and I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of those who continue to believe in and support her,” Angeli said in a statement.
Kiana, who is an aspiring fashion designer, also took the situation on a positive note. She told her fellow Filipina models to remain strong despite the rejection.
“Whether that be kindness, compassion, strength, your dignity, the things that you stand for -- no one can ever take that away from you, no one can tell you that you aren't beautiful if that's people see when people first meet you,” Kiana said.
"The way you look should be the last thing on your mind when it comes to beauty," she added.
Meanwhile, the rejection from LA Fashion Week drew criticisms and pageant enthusiast page, The Philippine Pageantry demanded an apology from the organizers for discriminating Filipinos.
“We demand an apology Los Angeles Fashion Week and rectification on the discrimination against us Filipinos,” the page wrote.