Name: Keishia Quijano
Please describe your current role.
Currently, I live a sort of double life. My primary job is in investment banking and corporate finance but in my free time, I do some modelling and also do ambassadorial work for Miss Philippines UK (MPUK). Only last month, I was blessed enough to have walked London Fashion Week (I walked for 3 Filipino designers!), National Asian Wedding Show, and India London Fashion Week. I also judged Miss Vietnam UK.
What is the maxim you live by?
I was actually asked this as my question during the Miss Philippines UK competition.
My mantra in life is: “Growth. Gratitude. Giving.”
Growth: I think it is important to strive to keep learning more about yourself and the world around you. We should never settle and always be growing/striving for the next big thing.
Gratitude: I think we should all be aware of our privileges and recognise the things/people we should be thankful for and what/who got us to where we are now.
Giving: I think giving back to the community that helped us (and the world) makes life worth living. Leave the world in a better place than you found it.
Tell us the biggest challenge that you faced and how you overcame it.
Find your purpose or your ‘WHY?’ and stay authentically you. Take some time to think about who you are and what you want to represent. Speak your truth but also take time to hear other people’s truth and try to understand where they are coming from as well.
I think one of the biggest challenges I have faced is accepting myself and my identity. I think a lot of us Filipinos in the UK, especially the younger generation, have had some sort of identity crisis – not feeling like we fit in anywhere. Joining MPUK has led me to find other Filipino-Brits and celebrate how they are proudly showing their personal halo-halo (“mixed”) of their Filipino and the British side. They taught me that we aren’t lost in-between cultures but are making our own identity that blends the beauty of both. Please see my personal project @FilBrit.ish on youtube/instagram to see us highlighting Filipino-British businesses and talent.
What is the one achievement that you are most proud of and why?
I would say that I am most proud of getting my degree from a top university and leading to the point where I am now. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree (with honours) in politics, philosophy, and economics from Durham University. I am most proud of this as, to me, it symbolises my hard work and determination as well as all the sacrifices that were made by my ancestors to get me to where I am today. I am the proud halo-halo of my hard work and my ancestors’ greatest dreams.
What would be your advice to young Filipino girls of today?
My advice would be to find your purpose or your ‘WHY?’ and stay authentically you. Take some time to think about who you are and what you want to represent. Speak your truth but also take time to hear other people’s truth and try to understand where they are coming from as well.
