Miss Bacoor Victoria Velasquez Vincent reveals being kidnapped at 3 years old

Miss Universe Philippines Bacoor City 2024 Victoria Velasquez Vincent turned emotional as she and her mom talked about the time that she was kidnapped at three years old.

In a YouTube video uploaded by Empire Philippines, the beauty queen asked her mom if she considered not telling her about the incident.

“Never,” her mom said. “The truth always finds a way to come out. But I waited, to tell you what happened so you would have a better understanding.”

Victoria was then asked, “Even though you may not recall it now, has it been a driving force behind your life choices?”

“Yeah, most definitely. I was born into a world where basic human rights like a safe home, education, and the freedom to write my reality was given to me,” she said.

Victoria said that she thinks about her three-year-old self who “escaped the fate of a life in complete contrast to the one that I have now. Then I think about the countless children that haven’t been as lucky or even how much you and your family struggled to survive when you were younger.”

“I can’t help but feel morally obligated to put my privileges to use towards a higher purpose,” she added.

Victoria is among the candidates vying for the Miss Universe Philippines crown.

In 2021, she also joined the same pageant and was hailed as Miss Universe Philippines Charity.

In the same year, she was offered to become Miss Universe New Zealand, but she declined.

“My heart is, and always will be here to serve the Philippines. Some may say I’m not Filipina enough, and that’s OK. I know who I am. I know what I stand for. I am a Filipina,” she said. —Carby Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News