Leyna Bloom (L) finds herself pitted against Pia Wurtzbach after her post claiming to be the first Filipino to walk in the L’Oréal Paris Fashion Week show.
PHOTO/S: @leynabloom and @piawurtzbach

Sino nga ba ang unang Pilipinong rumampa sa L’Oreal Paris fashion week?

Naging topic ito ng mga netizens matapos mag-post ang Filipino-American transgender model na si Leyna Bloom tungkol sa pagiging “first Filipino” na nakagawa nito sa taunang fashion event sa France.

Dahil dito, kinastigo ng netizens si Pia Wurtzbach.

Bago kasi siya rumampa sa L’Oreal Paris’ annual fashion show na ginanap sa Place de l’Opéra nitong September 23, 2024, nag-post siya sa Instagram ng: “Excited to make history as the first Filipina walking the L’Oréal catwalk for Le Défilé!”

LEYNA’S POST ABOUT BEING FIRST FILIPINO to walk L’OREAL PARIS FASHION SHOW runway

Ayon kay Leyna, rumampa siya sa L’Oreal show para sa Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2022 sa Paris, France, noong October 03, 2021.

Narito ang simula ng kanyang post na may petsang September 27, 2024: “Three years have passed since I made history as the first #Filipino and #BlaanTribe woman to walk the prestigious L’Oréal Paris runway, right in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower.”

Kalakip nito ang highlights ng kanyang pagrampa.

Ang kuwento ni Leyna (published as is), “I’m incredibly grateful to @lorealparis for inviting me to be part of such a powerful and inspiring show.

“Reflecting on this journey, it feels surreal that nearly three years have passed since I made history as the first #Filipino and #BlaanTribe woman to walk the prestigious L’Oréal Paris runway, right in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

“That moment, shared with @katgraham, is etched in my heart as a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come. We absolutely owned that runway!”

Binanggit din ni Leyna na markado iyon dahil isa siya sa unang trans women na naglakad sa tanyag na fashion event.

Ibinida rin niyang siya ang first trans woman sa U.S. na three years naging brand ambassador ng French multinational personal care company.

Tinapos niya ang post sa pamamagitan ng pagbati sa kanyang “Filipino sisters” na sina Pia at Stephanie Valentine, na parte rin ng L’Oreal fashion show ngayong taon.

Ani Leyna, “Huge congratulations to my Filipino sisters, @glamzilla & @piawurtzbach, for walking the runway this year—you both looked absolutely stunning and represented us beautifully.”

Si Leyna ay anak ng isang Pilipinang mula sa Blaan Tribe sa Southern Mindanao. Ang kanyang ama ay isang African-American.

Fil-Am model Leyna Bloom walked at the L’Oreal Paris fashion event last 2021, while Pia graced the L’Oreal Paris catwalk last September 2024. 
Photo/s: @leynabloom and @piawurtzbach

LEYNA ADDRESSES ISSUE

Kabuntot ng post ni Leyna ang pagbatikos ng mga bashers sa Miss Universe 2015 beauty queen dahil sa “incorrect at irresponsible information” nito.

Naka-tag din si Pia sa comments nila.

Dahil sa tinamong bashing ni Pia, nagkomento si Leyna tungkol sa “toxic behavior” ng netizens.

Parte ng post niya, “I choose to rise above toxic behavior, as there is no competition; the struggles of others do not define my journey.”

Aniya, mas importante sa kanyang magkaisa ang “global community to believe in themselves.”

Proud din siya sa kanyang heritage.

“While we may debate who comes first and who comes second, the truth remains: a little black Filipino girl from the south side of Chicago, who is also a first-generation #Blaan Indigenous child from General Santos, Mindanao had the incredible opportunity to walk in a fashion show in Paris twice, representing both of her cultures.”

In fact, hindi raw niya kinailangang banggitin ang “title of first” noong una siyang rumampa sa fashion show.

Pero hindi na siya nagpaliwanag kung bakit niya ito binanggit sa recent post.

Pagpapatuloy ni Leyna, “I have always been a winner in my own right, and no trophy or accolade can diminish that truth.”

Bilang panghuli, nag-iwan pa siya ng mensahe para kay Pia: “Happy birthday, @piawurtzbach! I hope you cherished your moment, and I can’t wait to see yu on the runway again next year.”

Naka-tag din si Pia sa message ni Leyna.