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- byGretchen Gatan Fragada
- April 26, 2022
Businesswoman, former beauty queen, and girl mom, Lia Andrea Ramos, hopes to live in a world where her daughters can thrive and have equal opportunities.
Lia Andrea Ramos has always been known to wear many hats. She represented the Philippines in the 2006 Miss Universe pageant held in Los Angeles, California. Six years later, she founded Glamourbox and launched the first premium beauty subscription service in the country. She and her team scoured the globe and curated monthly themed boxes to help Filipinas discover more about beauty. Eventually, the business went beyond sampling. They became an exclusive distributor and a multi-channel retailer for brands like Pixi Beauty.
It comes full circle for Lia—from competing as Miss Universe Philippines to now being a member of the board. She shares many visions with her co-members, which include empowering more women and being a platform to create change—no matter how big or small. These visions are especially close to her heart since she has two beautiful daughters, Kiara and Layla.
Prioritizing is Key
In being a hands-on businesswoman and mom, Lia admits that pivoting to a work-from-home setup when the pandemic started was a challenge she had to overcome. “There are no clear lines between home life and work. So my productivityfluctuates! I learned to prioritize tasks and put my time where it is most needed.I have learned that there are things I need to let go of and not sweat the small stuff while focusing on the more important things that the business needs. We have a very lean team and our resources are limited. So prioritizing is key.”
She adds, “Now that I have two toddlers, I also try to work my schedule around theirs. I accomplish more when they are napping or out in the garden with their playmates. There are also hours I block out from work just to be with them. I am lucky that I have found great nannies who step in for me and assist me with the kids when I need to focus on work.”
Lia Andrea Ramos: Empowered to Empower
Lia talks about her daughters fondly. “Being a mom changes your perspective on many things.I have two girls. And I want them to live in a world where women have equal opportunities as well as have a safe space for them to thrive.”
She and her husband, Kevin, agree to raise independent children who work hard, have grit, and can empathize. “We encourage them to learn to do things on their own. To start helping with chores at a young age. And we tell them it’s okay to fail or make mistakes.We fill our home with joy and laughter and we try to expose them to as much learning as they can. The world is full of possibilities and opportunities and we want them to be able to pursue what they love and be excellent at it.”
Raising Two Toddlers
Lia and her husband Kevin work as a team when it comes to raising their family. “We support each other’s style in raising our kids. Our kids are very young right now. Layla is a year and two months while Kiara is two years and nine months. And though they are already starting to show their personalities, they are also just forming their core values. We teach them right from wrong by repeatedly explaining things to them and showing them by example. Kevin is more of the disciplinarian though and I am the one who has more patience. Having kids has definitely taught me to have more patience!”
Infusing Two Cultures
As a Filipino-American family, it’s interesting to see how Lia and Kevin have infused both their cultures at home. “I love that we can share the best of both worlds with our kids. We have a wonderful mix of cultures at home. We put our family at the center of everything. And we keep a close-knit connection with our immediate and extended families,” Lia shares.
“Kevin is an only child and he loves how Filipinos maintain a close relationship with a large clan. His first time to visit our Christmas reunion in the US, I told him there will be about 50 people from my mother’s clan. He thought I was joking!” she laughs. “Both our cultures are evident in the food we eat, the holidays we celebrate, the language we use (we try to teach our kids both English and Filipino), and the values we teach.”
Lia adds, “Kevin is a Filipino at heart so I’d say our household is probably culturally 80% Filipino and 20% American. Haha! I love though that we can be outspoken and we encourage everyone in our household to be more direct and express how they feel. Communication is key and I think that’s very American.”
The Future is Female
As a girl mom running her own business and playing an integral part in the Miss Universe Philippines board, Lia Andrea Ramos is more than ready to be the best role model for Kiara and Layla. “Girls look up to their moms. I remind myself to be the best I can be to inspire my kids to be the best version of themselves!”
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