Miss Universe Philippines-Northern California Kayla Jean Carter/ARMIN P. ADINA
When Miss Universe Philippines-Northern California Kayla Jean Carter was diagnosed with Von Willebrand Disease, she was advised to avoid stressful situations as much as she could. But here she is, trying her luck in one of the fiercest national pageants awaited by many fans around the world.
“It’s a rare blood disorder, which means that I am missing a certain gene that everyone has in their body that is supposed to clot their blood. So unfortunately, there is no cure for this. There’s no sort of medication I can take,” the 27-year-old reality star told INQUIRER.net on the sidelines of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant’s signing event with lead sponsor Villa Medica held at Hilton Manila in Pasay City last month.
Because of her condition, she would have random bleeding episodes that she said are difficult for doctors to stop. And though stress could trigger it, Carter said she will not let her disease prevent her from living the life she wants for herself.
“That was a really pivotal moment for me in my life, because I almost ended up losing my life in the hospital when I got that diagnosis. I had this realization that you never know when your life is gonna end. And because of that, you can’t let it hinder you from pursuing what you want to pursue,” she shared.
“I would rather take the chance and have the satisfaction knowing that I did it rather than put bubble wrap over myself and keep myself inside. Because that’s not the life I want to live,” Carter continued.
She revels in the moment, being surrounded by women like her who have worked their way through difficult situations and challenges, and she is delighted to share the Miss Universe Philippines platform with her fellow delegates. “We need to destigmatize these conditions, because it really doesn’t hinder you,” she said.
The American-Filipino contender, who traces her roots back to Talisay, Cebu, also encouraged women who are in situations that many people would find limiting to find what makes them happy and grab it. “We are powerful women, we are powerful human beings, and we can’t let these conditions stop us from wanting to pursue what we want to pursue in life,” she declared.
But Carter still reminded those women, as she does to herself, to still be mindful of their own wellness. “Thanks to Villa Medica, they’re giving us a lot of different treatments and supplements and tips on how we can keep ourselves healthy,” she said.
She continued: “A full life is a life where you’re pursuing what you want to pursue. So my advice is to really go for it and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.”
Carter is competing with 51 other women to succeed Michelle Marquez Dee as Miss Universe Philippines. The winner will be known on May 22 at the culmination of the coronation show at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The eventual winner will represent the Philippines in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico later this year and try to become the fifth Filipino woman to snag the crown, after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and Catriona Gray (2018).