Verns Buckley was a school girl at 14 when she was introduced into the glamorous world of modeling. She had her first international modeling stint at 15 and at 16 has traveled to several Asian countries, walking the ramp for well-known designers. She had also graced magazine covers and TV commercials promoting international brands. The big break in her career came in 2002 when she landed in the top 10 Ford Supermodel of the World competition. She was the only Asian who made it to the magic circle from out of 54 contestants from all over the world.
This led to a dizzying pace where she had to set up base in Miami, Chicago, London, and Germany to model for J. Lo swimwear, Betsey Johnson, and Marks and Spencer, among many other international brands. Amusingly, the celebrity model became starstruck herself when she appeared in the Oprah Winfrey Show.
For someone who had experienced the great things that come with success and fame, Verns remains humble and grounded. On the comment that being a supermodel was a form of superpower, she was quick to say that she was blessed to be given the opportunity to represent her country in the competition, but true superpower comes from within, citing kindness, gentleness, and quick thinking as examples.
It will be hard to dispute, though, that the lady is super talented. She is the author of Hanami and its sequel Hazakura, romance novels that refreshingly portray woman not as a damsel in distress character, but as a strong person who is smart and capable of saving herself. She reveals that her passion for writing was inspired by her father, and the main character in her novel reflected the strong personality of her mother. Hanami was awarded second place in the 2015 Beacon Awards sponsored by the Romance Writers of America.
In writing her novels, Verns put to good use her knowledge of kendo for her realistic depiction of the fight scenes. Kendo is a Japanese form of fencing using bamboo swords that developed as a form of sword training for samurais. Verns is a member of a Kendo Club in the Philippines. A sports enthusiast, she was in the varsity swimming team in school, and had always loved martial arts. What she likes about kendo is that it allows one to spar with anyone regardless of height, built, or age. It works wonders for mental stimulation.
This writer is also a tireless learner. During the pandemic, she started studying Psychology when she felt a deep need for awareness on mental health during difficult times. She has recently been invited by several institutions, including Harvard, to do a research on the effects of the pandemic in a third-world country.
And of course, she is also at it when it comes to domestic affairs. Verns is a hands-on homemaker and mom to two young children who are homeschooling as required during the lockdown. She and husband Derrick Chiongbian own and manage Café Juanita, a popular restaurant at BGC.
Watch this video for more inspiring insights from this exceptionally talented and empowered Filipina.
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