MANILA, Philippines - In 1999, she was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas. She then went on to represent the country at the Miss Asia Pacific. She bagged the Miss Photogenic award and was one of the semi-finalists.
The beautiful Ritchie Guevarra Ocampo admits now that that part of her life was totally unexpected. As a kid, Ritchie was very hyper and active in sports. She was the type who would dare to try one game after another. She attributed this to the strong influence of her brother and uncle. “They were surprised when I joined a beauty contest,” she laughingly recounts. But she is quick to clarify that she’s also close to her three elder sisters. “Growing up, I was dependent on my ates. I treat them as my best friends and I will do everything to make them happy.”
The important value of family is something that Ritchie learned from her parents, Remigio and Zenaida Ocampo. So when she became a mother herself, she made sure to rear her own three-year-old son Gian Marco on the values she grew up with. “I felt much happier and complete when I had him,” she says. “His existence makes my life more meaningful and I’m more inspired to become successful.”
Although her pretty face could have landed her a career in showbiz, Ritchie decided to “embark” on another career as a flight attendant for Qatar Airways. “We were the frontliners of the airline. We tried to offer five-star services to our customers,” shares the 5-ft.7-in.-tall Ritchie, who was with the airline for seven years. “We attended to our passengers’ needs and made them feel comfortable until they disembarked from the aircraft.”
Ritchie, who once tried acting through the Aga Muhlach-Regine Velasquez starrer Pangako, Tayong Dalawa, decided to follow another path and never looked back. “Because of my job, I was able to visit Europe, the Middle East, Indian subcontinents and other Asian countries. These are also my favorite places on earth!” she gushes. “I also got to meet people from different walks of life and build my self-confidence.”
Because physical appearance plays a big role in her career, Ritchie knows that she is expected to be well groomed all the time. That’s why she is thankful to the Ever Bilena products in her makeup kit. “EB cosmetics are affordable and the effect on my face is like using expensive ones,” says Ritchie. “My favorite products are the body sprays, makeup palette, press powder and lipstick.” The former beauty queen and flight attendant also shares her other secrets to staying youthful: “Drink plenty of water and juices. Eat fruits and vegetables. Moisturize.”