Leyna Bloom shared her thoughts on the diversity in Philippine culture
Transwoman celebrity Leyna Bloom lamented the “not Filipino enough” comment that she received after sharing a post featuring Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.
Leyna caught the attention of the online community just recently because of her post recalling the time when she walked on L’Oréal Runway. This happened three years ago and as the “first Filipino woman” and first from “Blaan Tribe”, she expressed how memorable this experience was for her.
In her Instagram post, Leyna also mentioned Pia and Fil-Canadian fashion influencer Glamzilla.
“Huge congratulations to my Filipino sisters, @glamzilla & @piawurtzbach, for walking the runway this year—you both looked absolutely stunning and represented us beautifully,” Leyna Bloom said.
What she posted apparently did not sit well with some Pinoy fashion fans and fans of Pia Wurtzbach who was dubbed the “first Filipina” to walk on L’Oréal Runway during the Paris Fashion Week 2024.
Some accused Leyna Bloom of “clout chasing” while some mentioned her gender preference and she did not represent the Philippines really.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Leyna expressed disappointment that some Filipinos are stereotyping others based on their skin color. “In the past 24 hours, I’ve heard the painful reminder that I’m “not Filipino enough” how many times I heard this my whole life,” she said.
Leyna pointed out that being a Filipino with African-American heritage was a challenge. She said that despite her achievements in film, fashion, and other creative endeavors, the Philippines does not see her as someone representing her heritage even though the country is known for its diversity.
“Does my skin, my hair, and my African heritage mixed with Filipino really threaten a country that prides itself on healing people around the world?” she wrote.
Leyna also said that it breaks her heart that there is so much strength in Filipino identity but still others would still prefer colorism as “foreign.” It also pained her that most people would embrace those who have lighter skin or have Western features.
Leyna Bloom included her photos wearing Filipiniana-inspired dresses in this post from a previous magazine photoshoot.
In the comment section of her post, the transwoman celebrity received support from her fans and social media followers. Some netizens even mentioned Pia Wurtzbach and their comments, as well as, fashion designer Mark Bumgarner, who defended the latter about the “first Filipina” issue.
