Julie's story

I’m Julie. I’m originally from the Philippines and moved to New Zealand 17 years ago. I’m now a Registered Nurse working across Waitākere and North Shore Hospitals. I come from a family of four, and as the eldest, I’ve always felt a strong sense of responsibility for my family. I’m also the first in my family to complete a university degree, so my journey has always been about resilience, hard work and making the most of every opportunity.

My mum is 72 years old and a stroke survivor. She’s one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. Interestingly, she once dreamed of becoming a nurse herself, but she gave up that dream so her youngest sibling could have the opportunity instead.

That says so much about the kind of person she is — she has always put others before herself. Watching her navigate life after her stroke has made me appreciate her strength even more and has inspired me in both my personal life and my career as a nurse.

There were many reasons I entered Miss Universe New Zealand, but one of the biggest was to share my story of resilience and hopefully inspire others who may be facing their own challenges.

At the time, my mum was recovering, and I also wanted to show her that even when life becomes difficult, we can still dream, step outside our comfort zone and keep moving forward. In many ways, the journey became something we shared together.

My mum didn’t say much about it, but she showed her support in her own way. Whenever I practised my pasarela, she would watch me, and she was always supportive of my weekend activities related to MUNZ.

Knowing that she was there watching and supporting me, especially while she was recovering herself, meant more to me than she probably realised.

Because stroke doesn’t only affect the person who experiences it — it affects the entire family.

I want stroke survivors and their families to know that they are not alone, that they are seen, and that support, resources and help are available. As both a daughter of a stroke survivor and a nurse, I’ve seen how important education, support and hope can be throughout the recovery journey.

I’m most proud that I finished the competition despite everything life threw at us during that time.

It was an incredibly busy season. We were balancing Mum’s recovery, work, family responsibilities and the competition — and somehow, during all of that, my husband and I also bought our first home.

One of my most special memories was having my whole family watching me live during the finals. Regardless of the final result, seeing them there and knowing how far we had come together made me feel like I had already won.

I’m focusing on self-care, spending quality time with my family, continuing my nursing career and staying connected with my church community.

I also want to continue what I started during the competition — creating inspirational content, sharing stories that uplift people, and connecting with amazing people and businesses. I’ve realised that my voice and story can reach people beyond the pageant stage, and I’d love to keep using that platform for something meaningful.

For me, it comes down to discipline, time management, delegation and having a strong support system.

I’ve also learned that caring for someone else doesn’t mean completely neglecting yourself. Making time to rest and recharge allows me to show up better for my mum, my family, my work and myself.

It’s hard, and some days will be harder than others. But we can’t turn back time, so give your best with the time and circumstances you have.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to the right people for support. Rest when you’re tired. Ask for help when you need it. And most importantly, don’t give up.

You may not be able to control what happened, but you can choose how you move forward. I believe regret can be much harder to carry than knowing you did your best.

I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to share a little bit of my story. My journey through MUNZ reminded me that sometimes our biggest challenges can become the very things that give us purpose.