You may have encountered TikToks on how to be ‘That Girl’ on your For You Pages. You know, the girl who gets up early, keeps a schedule of her daily routine (including time for breaks), and prioritizes her wellness and mindfulness activities just as much as she prioritizes work and school—all while making it look easy. For some, it’s a lifestyle to aspire to, but for Leonah Yosalina, it’s an average day in her life.
If her name sounds familiar to you, that’s because you’ve probably heard it before. Last year, Leonah entered the Miss Universe Philippines Pageant as the representative of Las Piñas City—something that has been a dream of hers since she was young. “I feel like it's embedded as a young Filipina, given that it's a suggestion that's often thrown around in family gatherings: ‘Ah, mag-Miss U ka!’ However, my sister and I took those jokes a little too seriously and she's been convincing me to join since I was 16. I joined last year because I was finally old enough and I felt that there wasn't anything to lose.” And while she didn’t make it to the finals, the experience just solidified her dreams of becoming a pageant queen. “It's now a goal of mine to win a crown.”
However, there is a silver lining: “The exposure I got from the pageant opened up doors to becoming an Instagram and TikTok content creator, which is something I'm very grateful for,” she shares. Indeed, the beauty queen thrives on TikTok, with over 21,000 followers and 3 million likes. Her TikToks range from lifestyle content to makeup tutorials to funny memes. Her content has gotten her a lot of attention on both TikTok and Instagram, including from different brands. Now, she gets to work with and create content for them.
One of the projects she was really proud to be a part of was Kayu Beauty’s launch campaign. “I've always wanted to properly model for a beauty brand and Kayu gave me that opportunity. It was such a wonderful experience and really helped me embrace being a morena.” Leonah also landed a spot in Preview’s Preview Clique, which has helped her be part of projects for big brands like Dove, Modess, and Nescafé. “I'm really proud of being a part of the Clique not just because of the projects, but also because I learn a lot from collaborating with other creators. I aspire to get better and better from every project I book.”
Pageant queen, model, content creator, and Preview Clique member—you would think that Leonah already has a lot on her plate, but it’s important to note that the 20-year-old is also currently an incoming senior at Ateneo de Manila University. “I'm currently taking a major in Management Information Systems (MIS) with a specialization in Enterprise Systems. MIS trains you on how to work with databases and the importance of this skill in SMEs and Large Companies. Although my course is a mix of Computer Science and Business Management, I've been pursuing roles under User Experience/User Interface Design (UXD).” Essentially, she also designs websites and interfaces that users interact with.
[Modeling for Kayu Beauty] was such a wonderful experience and really helped me embrace being a morena.
With the work she takes on, Leonah’s schedule is usually packed. “My weekdays are dedicated to my UXD internship and I squeeze in some brand work and freelance work in the afternoon.” During the weekends, she gets to spend time with her family and friends, and on Sundays, she even helps design cakes for her family business, Good Karma Bakery. “When my schedule isn't as busy, I’ll find time to work out or unwind—usually by watching a Netflix episode or reading.”
You might already be wondering: How does Leonah do it all? Her secret: Time management. “I always plan out my days, weeks, and months because I really want to avoid procrastinating and having to deal with so much backlog. I time-block my days and sometimes, I even schedule my meals and breaks and naps.” Of course, she also blocks out time for self-care days. “I love doing my skincare and just laying in bed with a face mask on and Gilmore Girls playing on the TV. I try to do my gua-sha routine on a daily basis and use a cleansing mask at least once a week.”
I aspire to get better and better from every project I book.
Beauty and wellness truly play a huge role in her daily routine. “If I'm sticking to my beauty routine and I think it looks good, then I'll feel good.” The ripple effect of her feeling good from her routine positively impacts her work with her various jobs and with school, and it also keeps her motivated to take on the challenges that come her way.
Beauty is also a way the content creator has fun. Leonah loves trying different beauty trends, from popular makeup looks to cute TikTok transitions to even services like radio frequency treatments. “I always have fun with beauty and wellness because it never feels like a chore.”
In fact, the fun she’s had with makeup and beauty started when she was young. Her older sister used to write for a local magazine and she would take Leonah along to shoots. Her exposure to the fabulous world of beauty stuck with her; however, it was only when she entered Miss Universe Philippines that she learned how to properly apply makeup on herself.
Beauty plays a huge role in the brand work she does, too. “Most of the brands I collaborate with are makeup and skincare brands, so it's safe to say that I do work that involves beauty and wellness almost every day. It's a really nice feeling to know that these brands think I'm someone worth listening to.”
While Leonah continues to plan to work with different beauty brands, she also wants to make sure that she’s giving attention to her college career, too. “As much as I love to work and create content, my education will always be on top of my priorities and I'm dedicating this year to making sure that I'll be making my parents proud when I graduate next year.” As for now, Leonah has some goals already in mind: “I plan to ace my internship and have a great standing by the end of the year, so I can graduate on time and hopefully with honors.”
If I'm sticking to my beauty routine and I think it looks good, then I'll feel good.
One way she stays motivated to accomplish these goals is by surrounding herself with people who inspire her—from her friends and family to other influencers. She also takes part in positive self-talk to keep her going. “I like to think that, if you truly just put your mind to something and really commit to it, then you're already halfway there.” This self-talk also applies to her idea of beauty. “I think that if you yourself strongly believe that you are beautiful, then everyone else will follow. I act like I'm the most beautiful person in the world and I feel it to my core and I'm confident about it; who's going to tell me I'm not? My confidence in myself will overpower my fear of judgment.”
So, what does Leonah see for her future? “I don't have a clear picture yet, but I know how I want my future self to feel. Regardless of what industry I end up in, I just hope that the future me is genuinely happy and passionate about what she's doing.”
Photos courtesy of Leonah Yosalina
