Bb. Pilipinas candidate Ladylyn Riva: Beauty with a cause

“Outer beauty attracts, but inner beauty captivates.”

―Kate Angell, Squeeze Play

In a nation that’s crazy about beauty pageants, a lot of young girls aspire to become beauty queens. This comes as no surprise as Filipinas are naturally endowed with good looks, arresting features and winning personality that could win them a crown. Filipina beauty queens’ winning streak in international pageants in the last four years could very well attest to this.

This year, Binibining Pilipinas is once again in search of Filipina beauties who will represent the Philippines in international tilts and continue bringing pride to the country.

Bb. Pilipinas #39: Ladylyn Riva.
Photo courtesy of www.bbpilipinas.com

Registered nurse Ladylyn Riva was one of those who heed the call. But the 26-year-old beauty, who is also a model and a makeup artist, is more than your average Bb. Pilipinas candidate. Aside from her striking features and disarming charm, Ladylyn is a beauty with a cause. She knows that women who possess the rare combination of physical and inner beauty are women that people look up to. And she continues to strive to be one.

For starters, Ladylyn is an advocate of protecting the environment, especially in tourist destinations in the Philippines. A native of Nabas in Aklan, she grew up near Boracay―one of the world’s most beautiful beaches―which pretty much explains why she feels strongly about the issue of environmental protection. To Ladylyn, sustainability of the beauty of these locations is an important factor in promoting the country’s tourism.

'Preserving natural beauty is all in our interest,' says Riva, who advocates environmental protection in tourist destinations such as Boracay (above).  

With beauty and brain in one package, Ladylyn stands out from among the equally beautiful candidates because of her social awareness. “I’ve seen how much the island of Boracay has changed because of the speed of development,” she says. Ladylyn is aware that these developments are key to boosting tourism, jobs and revenue in the area but feels that the island has begun to lose its natural beauty because of them. “There has to be a balance. And people have to start acting now.”

Ladylyn furthers that aside from Boracay, other tourist spots in the country need the same kind of attention since most of the country’s attractions boast of natural beauty and eco-tourism. According to her, preservation of the environment is critical in sustaining the viability of these destinations and that locals, tourists, and the government can start small and do their share in keeping the area clean and beautiful.

Ladylyn suggests that simple things―such as ceasing the use of plastic bags, stiffer penalties for littering, and proper segregation of garbage―can all be done with a minimum of legislation. “These small things will add up to a lot,” she quips. “Coral formations, for example, provide food and shelter for fish, leading to increased yield for fishermen.”

Mangrove forests, she says, are often sacrificed to construct beach resorts. “But what many do not know is that mangroves act as a shock absorber to approaching typhoons.”

A beauty to watch out for: Ladylyn Riva.

Ladylyn said that environmental preservation brings more benefit than just beautification. “Preserving natural beauty is all in our interest. Not only will succeeding generations benefit from it, but it will help sustain countless livelihoods in rural areas.”

Her stance on social and environmental issues is truly admirable. No wonder that she has rushed to the forefront of the standings as one of the early favorites in the Bb. Pilipinas 2014 pageant. Ladylyn Riva, who is candidate no. 39 in the country’s foremost beauty contest, is definitely a beauty to watch out for. Know her fate on the coronation night on March 30, 2014.