First Filipina ‘Miss Asian Global’ gets set for travel med school

Pamela Lagera is on her way to medical school, but first things first–travel. PHOTO BY ALEX DRECHSLER

SAN FRANCISCO—Competing in her very first pageant was a new experience for Pamela Gail Demontano Lagera. Growing up she would perform songs and dance, but she was never judged like she was the night of the Miss Asian Global and Miss Asian America Pageant.

“It was electrifying and nerve wracking. I just reminded myself to stay calm and focused,” she recalled about that evening in early August.

With a very “mobile” childhood, Pamela has always been in a position where she needed to adjust and adapt to new surroundings quickly. Before starting school at University of California, Berkeley, Pamela attended nine different schools. She moved around from state to state and had to learn about many different cultures.

“I always had a slight interest in pageantry, but never thought I would actually join one. I don’t have any friends who have done pageants either,” Pamela said.

“In February, I was introduced to Miss Asian Global at the launch party and after talking to the court and community supporters, I decided to apply and am extremely grateful I made that decision,” Pamela recounted.

Pamela knew she would be nervous in front of a crowd and judges, so she started her pageant preparations months in advance. She learned how to walk in heels, present her platform and smile more often, even while taking MCAT summer review classes. It was a challenging summer but she kept a mental picture of her being on stage and radiating confidence, which months later paid off.

“As Miss Asian America, I want to use my title and platform to empower others to take care of their health and promote mobile healthcare technology,” Pamela said. “When I started at UC Berkeley, it was a very dramatic environmental and cultural change for me. I was in a state of depression and anxiety by the end of my first year, and my doctor prescribed medicine to help me.”

One day, Pamela decided that she did not want to rely on medicine and started using mobile health care applications. She turned to apps to help her with stress and dealing with negativity. “Even if you’re at your most low, you can still do things for yourself to become a healthier person,” Pamela stated.

Pamela’s next year is going to be a significant one as she graduates with a bachelor’s of science degree in molecular and cell biology with an emphasis in neurobiology. She plans to take a year off before medical school since the past four years have been emotionally and physically demanding. During her gap year, she plans to travel and learn more about other cultures. She also plans to do a special master’s program before med school or do some clinical research.

“I am excited for so many things this year. I am in the process of putting together a lifestyle blog with the purpose of inspiring people and encouraging them that they can do anything with hard work, passion, and through building relationships,” she shared.

“I want to write about my life obstacles and how I overcame them. Including posts about my pageant journey on my website is something that I also want to cover and how I balance things in my life.”

Pamela will be appearing as a speaker at the second annual Imagine Talks, which is presented by the Miss Asian Global Foundation. You can find more about Pamela here: https://www.pamelalagera.com.

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