Jojo Bragais serves as a judge at Miss USA 2024
Pinoy pageant shoemaker Jojo Bragais has added another feather to his cap by becoming a member of the selection committee of the Miss USA 2024 Preliminary Competition.
This came after he was chosen to sponsor the footwear for this year's Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.
During the competition, which was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, Bragais was introduced as part of the panel of judges as a "widely successful shoe designer specializing in pageantry shoe wear."
'Never in my wildest dream'
Bragais reflected on this milestone in his career on Instagram. According to him, he used to judge beauty pageants around the country and he never imagined he would have the opportunity to be among those to select the next Miss Universe representative for the United States.
"Lagi akong judge sa mga beauty pageants sa Pinas pero never in my wildest dream that I will be one of the judges in the Biggest Beauty Pageant in America!" he wrote in the caption.
Michigan's Alma Cooper was hailed as this year's Miss USA winner.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jojo Bragais (Jose Joaquin Bragais) (@bragaisjosejoaquin)
Bragais, who was also the official shoe designer of the last three editions of the Miss Universe pageant, ventured into the shoe industry only as a hobby.
As per his website, it was in late 2013 when he realized that the shoe business was his "purpose."
In his flagship store in Quezon City, Bragais sells chunky pageant heels with names inspired by beauty queens like “Kylie,” “Venus,” “Pia,” “Megan” and “Maxine.”
Having supported Filipino beauty queens and local pageants, the shoemaker said the opportunity to showcase Filipino talent on a massive platform like the Miss Universe pageant is not just about great honor and pride.
“I don’t see (this opportunity) as my success alone. For me, it’s also the success of every small shoe [manufacturer] here in the Philippines who [has] the same dream of taking their creations on the international stage. If I can make it, others can too. I want this to be an inspiration to those who dream big. It’s possible,” he said.