“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!” – a quote by famous fashion and showbiz icon Audrey Hepburn. For Danaya Khristina V. Banico, a charming 17-year-old lady from Quezon City, who is set on becoming a renowned model, a beauty queen, and a showbiz personality, she lives by such a quote, knowing that her dreams are not impossible to achieve if she remains driven and determined.
As a kid, Danaya already fixed her sights on the world of fashion and beauty. She loved watching fashion shows and beauty pageants on TV as well as learning from videos of make-up tutorials and style ideas online. When she turned 13, her mother enrolled Danaya in a reputable modeling agency where she discovered that she had a knack for modeling.
“I was so shy and nervous on the first day of training because I was bullied as a kid which made me an introvert; all I wanted to do was stay at home, watch TV, and didn’t talk to anyone except my family. It was my first time wearing stilettos, I fell so many times on the floor which was really embarrassing and discouraging. The thing that kept me going was knowing that we don’t have much money but my parents made a way to save enough funds so that I can be trained in modeling. That’s why I did my best to improve myself. During our recital, I was awarded ‘Best in Runway’. At that point, I knew I can become a model if I worked hard and stayed focused,” Danaya shared.
From then on, the teenage stunner gained confidence and started to join modeling competitions. She won 2nd runner-up at a prestigious modeling contest and became an in-house model for a fashion company as well as a model for a clothing brand.
As she steadily realizes her goal of becoming an accomplished model, Danaya is hard at work on becoming a beauty pageant titleholder as well, which is why she regularly enrolls in various workshops to hone her skills and increase her chances of winning a pageant title. “Danaya is a natural when it comes to pageants, as such, we are preparing her so that she can join the Miss Universe Philippines or Miss World Philippines pageant in the near future,” her manager, John Rey Malto said.
Since the usual career path for a beauty queen is to enter showbiz, Danaya is also aiming to attend workshops in acting, dancing, singing, and hosting. “I want to learn as much as I can about the different areas of showbiz. When I’m certain of the area that I really like to be in, then I will concentrate my training on that field to master it,” she added.
Though Danaya is focused on achieving her dreams, she does not lose sight of her ultimate goal of finishing her education. “Honestly, it’s not easy for me to create a balance between school and my workshops. I’m also a member of EscolArtista, a dance club of Centro Escolar Integrated School, the school where I go to. Hence, dance rehearsals and performances also take a portion of my time. I’m fortunate that my parents manage my schedule when it comes to these things. They are the ones who look for coaches who will train me when I’m not busy with school and make sure that the workshops will not be in conflict with my schooling.
From a kid who was bullied which resulted in her having low self-esteem, Danaya transformed into a confident young woman which she gives credit to her parents. “I am blessed to have such great parents who always believed in me. Through the self-improvement programs they provided me when I was a kid, I managed to get back on my feet. They are the reason why I am determined to reach my dreams so that I can repay my parents and give them a secure future.”
“My advice to those who are bullied is everything that is happening in your life has a purpose, whatever you are going through will pass. The one thing that will never change is the love of your parents, so always listen to them and always give thanks to God,” Danaya said.
Though beautiful and talented, Danaya knows these are not enough to make her dreams possible, it also takes hard work and determination. Judging by how focused and disciplined she is, it’s only a matter of time before her dreams become a reality.
To know more about Danaya Khristina V. Banico, visit her social media pages.
TIKTOK: http://www.tiktok.com/@danayabanico
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/danayabanico.official?mibextid=LQQJ4d
INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/danaya_banico?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY=
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