Mia Nolasco: Empowering women

Meeting women who are in themselves strong and empowered is a privilege. Meeting women who pass on all that positive energy to an even greater extent is a reward one cannot help but cherish. Which is why when this writer was called on to interview at least two of this batch’s Women of Allure, the only possible response was an affirmative one. By the time this writer began to chat with Lux Asia’s Mia Nolasco, there was no doubt in my mind that I’d made the right decision.

Bursting with beauty, confidence and an aura of pure energy, Mia is among the most remarkable individuals one can possibly ever come across. As Lux Asia Philippines’ general manager, Mia is directly involved with the nationwide distribution of well-known fragrances like of Calvin Klein, Bulgari, Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier, Ferragamo, Burberry and Lanvin, as well as cosmetics from Shiseido, YSL and other spa products. Her days are spent juggling office duties and out-of-the-office meetings and in-store visits throughout the workweek. But, as hectic as her professional life is, Mia still manages to spend a substantial amount of time with her three children — and then some.

In fact, it’s pretty safe to say that Mia still gets to attend to all her duties at work despite it all being second fiddle to her children. She, for example, refuses to let the driver take her kids to school and instead takes them herself to start off each day. "I think it’s important to let my children know how much I value their education. Taking them to school myself and having the time to help them out with their homework is something I always see to it that I get to do. It’s very important that I spend time with them before and after my work," she says.

She’s also very particular about instilling both a strong love for family-centered activity and a sense of spirituality in them. "Weekends are strictly devoted to my family. We play golf (yes, with the kids), we swim, most importantly, we pray and go to church together every Sunday. It’s very important that I know my children have a healthy relationship with God," she explains.

On top of it all, Mia finds time to take care of herself as well. Regular exercise for her includes anything from yoga to walking to kickboxing to indulging her children in their favorite sports like baseball, basketball and golf. Yes, indeed, Mia is the epitome of the complete woman — one who is able to prioritize and balance a myriad of activities to enviable degrees.

We asked her how and why she has managed to stay so focused (she’s been at it for more than 10 years now) despite the gargantuan duties she has chosen to embrace wholeheartedly on both the personal and professional side. Surprise, surprise, it all ties in after all. "I love the way cosmetics can make a woman feel beautiful, how it makes her increase her self-worth. I love the way it helps and enhances one’s God-given physical qualities. I think it’s important that women are able to at least feel good about themselves because after all women have to raise children. And it is our children who will eventually be the cornerstones of our future. When a woman is able to raise children with confidence and happiness, all that gets passed on to the children and consequently the future as well," she reasons.

Well, we say it’s hard to argue with such sound reasoning. And even harder to argue with the positive results we see from her. This is one empowered woman who’s passing all that energy out onto both the people who need it and the people that matter most.