THIRD EDITION January 2025

Maria Rivera
New York Runway Model

Maria Rivera: From Manila to Manhattan, A Journey of Resilience and Grace
An influencer in her own right, Maria Rivera is a fashion model in New York City whose career began in the Philippines. She was born and raised in Sampaloc, Manila, by her grandmother Lola Tule (Lola translates to grandmother). Sampaloc (which translates to Tamarind, as the area once had an abundance of tamarind trees) is a district situated in the northern part of Manila. It is known for its bustling markets with vibrant scenes, much like the vibrant, cheerful, well-dressed, and elegant Maria when she first walked into the café in downtown Manhattan for her interview. She also carries the spirit of Bulacan from her father’s side and Pampanga from her mother’s side.
Bulacan is located in the northern part of Manila, a place that played a very important role in Philippine history. It is where the first republic, or Malolos Republic, was declared in 1899, following the Philippines' Declaration of Independence from Spanish colonial rule in 1898. The province of Pampanga, on the other hand, is situated in Central Luzon. It is known as the culinary capital of the Philippines and a major agricultural region producing rice.
From her already vivacious life as a city girl in Manila, Maria relocated alone to New York City five years ago, signing with a New York-based modeling agency. She was immediately tested by the stringent demands of the fashion industry, from meeting strict standards for physique to navigating a culture of both success and rejection. Alone in a big city with no one to rely on, Maria found comfort when she met another Filipino model in New York. The two became good friends, planning their highly disciplined eating routines and naturally becoming each other’s support system.
“Rejection became our meal,” Maria explains. Going to casting calls made her realize that there are so many beautiful women in New York, raising the question of why she was even there. Models are pushed to be someone the job requires, but not necessarily someone they want to be. Over time, Maria faced her challenges with resilience and grace, a prominent quality of a Filipina. The compliments and attention she received made her timid, yet they also provided her the feeling of validation as a rightful public figure who can positively affect people.
New York City indeed is not lacking in beautiful models, but what is remarkable about Maria is that for a young woman, she is dignified. Regardless of the details of her hardships working as a fashion model and the challenges imposed on her self-esteem, she speaks of her experiences maturely rather than defeated.
For Maria, beauty is subjective. She reiterated that while some people are naturally suited to be models with their specific physical qualities, she doesn’t believe women have to be a size 2 or 0. It is not realistic. She recalls the time when she was asked to try out for the Victoria's Secret Pink casting. She dedicated months to prepare herself physically to the point of being emaciated. While her thin figure made it easy to wear clothes, it did not make her feel good. Today, Maria feels more beautiful, admitting she is very happy after meeting her supportive fiancé three years ago.
As a promising vlogger with a significant following under the name “Mabuhay Maria,” Maria plans to create future vlogs for aspiring models, helping them understand the realities of the modeling industry. Her goal is to become a positive influencer.
When asked about her identity as a Filipina, Maria immediately responded, “I am proud,” hence her vlogger name “Mabuhay Maria,” which translates to "live life, Maria." She explains that Filipinos are naturally jolly and accommodating, even to strangers. “Filipinos are very talented but sometimes don’t know it,” she added. They adapt easily to different environments and are fighters by nature. Maria identifies herself as a fighter, quoting Alicia Keys: “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”
In her foreseeable future, she sees her vlogging continuing to expand. She wants to use her platform to educate the world that Filipinos are not just nurses, beauty queens, and domestic helpers. She hopes to highlight Filipino successes and move away from clichés.
As a fashion model and vlogger, Maria advises young people struggling with self-esteem to “listen and communicate with your family and relatives because your blood is your strongest ally.” She notes that many young people today turn to social media for information, often growing up too fast and being misled. Enjoying youth, living in the moment, and asking for help are also signs of strong character.
Maria may not have had the chance to be raised closely by her parents, but being raised by Lola Tule certainly made her an outstanding individual. From a matriarchal upbringing, Maria was already a very grounded person before moving to New York City. When asked if she considers herself a New Yorker, she replied, “I am not a New Yorker, but I do add spice to New York.” Maria carries her success with humility and faces her difficulties with tenacity—a true Filipina indeed.
Photo credit: Provided by Maria Rivera