Filipinas are widely considered to be among the most beautiful women in the world. Two of the last five Miss Universe titleholders have come from the Philippines: Pia Wurtzbach in 2015 and Catriona Gray in 2018. Both are products of interracial romance between a foreigner and a Filipina –Pia’s father is German while Catriona’s is Australian. 

In my series Carpe Diem Chronicles, I celebrate the harmonious melding of multiple cultures in my main characters. The American Ryan brothers have an Italian mother and an Irish father. Krista’s father is American, Maddie’s is French, Angela’s is Singaporean. All pairings created beautiful offspring. 

Of the three female leads, Maddie is the one most often complimented for her physical attractiveness. She worked as a model before she obtained her college degree. In three of my books, Aidan compares her to Miss Universe.

Boracay Vows

She sashayed onto the plane and waved to the pilots like she’s Miss Universe. Then she held out her hand to me as if I should be honored she acknowledged my presence at all.” 

Singapore Fling

The woman who approached him was, in a word, breathtaking. Not just any other beauty queen, but Miss Universe-caliber.

Tall and slender, she was both Filipina and Caucasian. Blond-highlighted, honey-colored hair was artfully arranged on top of her head, her sunglasses forming a black crown in the center of the thick mass. Smooth earth-toned skin—miles of it on display, thanks to her skimpy halter top and jean shorts—was luminous, even inside the poorly lit plane. Her eyes sparkled with good humor and a hint of appreciation as she followed his progress to a standing position.”

Global City Tryst

“We have many beautiful ladies here in the Philippines. They can all win Miss Universe,” the other guy boasted.

Aidan’s lips twitched. He’d thought the same when he first met Madeleine. Her irresistible beauty was the reason he’d made time in his packed schedule. She ticked all his boxes.”

Of course Aidan doesn’t fall in love until he has gotten to know Maddie better. But that initial spark of attraction was necessary to ignite their sizzling romance. 

Photo note: based on my photo face-swapped with a model using Face App.