Elizabeth Clenci

ROOTS OF RESILIENCE 

Elizabeth Clenci’s path reflects this integrative perspective. Born in Australia to a Filipina mother and Romanian father, Clenci was grounded in the rich traditions of her maternal roots—traditions where health security is seen as a communal, daily practice of balance. Her mother, from Cebu and Mindanao—regions celebrated for their dynamic cultures—imparted these values early on. Cebu, with its famed lechon and the vibrant Sinulog Festival, pulses with life-affirming traditions, while Mindanao’s rich musical heritage, including the kulintang and other gongs, taught her the power of rhythm and connection. Growing up in predominantly white Australia, Clenci felt these cultural practices as an anchor. She remembered being one of only two Asian students in her primary school, yet always finding comfort in her family’s daily rituals—sharing meals, honoring elders, and gathering to celebrate music and community. Her mother instilled a respect for family and elders, a principle she carries forward. “Respect for everyone is at the heart of Filipino culture,” Clenci noted, recognizing how this mirrors the reverence Indigenous communities in Australia hold for their own elders. 

PAGEANTRY AS A PLATFORM FOR PURPOSE

 

This grounding in holistic well-being naturally wove itself into Clenci’s pursuits. As a child, she would watch the Binibining Pilipinas pageant on television with her grandmother, dreaming out loud, “I will be there one day.” In 2011, she fulfilled this promise, stepping onto the Binibining Pilipinas stage in Manila. Although she carried with her the sadness of her grandmother’s passing the year before, her presence was a tribute to the woman who first sparked her dream. 

HONORING ANCESTRY THROUGH ARTISTRY 

At the pageant, Clenci wore a national costume designed by Jearson Demavivas, earning the Best in National Costume award. Even in her earliest pageant appearance, she understood that pageantry was not merely a showcase of beauty, but a stage for embodying values—confidence, kindness, and cultural pride. Six years later, Clenci returned stronger and more rooted in these values. She earned the title of 2nd Runner-Up at Miss Grand International 2017, wearing a T’boli-inspired gown by Demavivas—an exquisite creation that paid homage to the T’boli tribe. The ensemble featured the T’nalak fabric and the hegelung, a native T’boli guitar, both symbols of her rich cultural heritage and love for music. Intricate beadwork and cultural motifs adorned the gown, offering a modern interpretation of a T’boli princess and reinforces Clenci’s commitment to honoring her roots on the global stage. 

ADVOCACY FOR PEACE AND PERSONAL AGENCY 

“People think peace is only a governmental issue, but it begins within us,” she asserted. Her appointment that same year as a peace ambassador by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) emphasized her belief in personal agency. Education, she said, is the key—empowering individuals to shape healthier, more harmonious communities. 

MUSIC AS A METAPHOR FOR LIFE 

This philosophy of synergy also threads through her work as a musician. Having studied contemporary and improvisational music in Sydney, alongside classical training at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, Clenci’s music is as diverse as her heritage. She draws from the pulsating beat of the Tinikling—where dancers nimbly weave between clashing bamboo poles—as a metaphor for Filipino resilience. “Music is a whole ecosystem,” she said. “The steady beat is life’s forward momentum. Just as music never stops, neither does the Filipino spirit of Tiyaga—perseverance.” 

HEALING FROM WITHIN 

For Clenci, health became deeply personal when she faced a severe case of eczema in 2014—a condition that tested her physically and mentally for over a year. “It was painful, and it felt like it was written on my face. It was hard to see beyond that,” she shared. Yet, drawing from the Asian principle of proactive care, she approached her recovery holistically: educating herself, rethinking her lifestyle, and seeking balance in her mind and environment. Transforming her pain into purpose, she became a detoxification specialist and health advocate, grounding her advocacy in lived experience. “I have been through a lot since I was young, suffering emotionally and physically,” she said. “But it was not in vain. To be able to help others is worth it.” 

SHARING WISDOM AND MINDFUL LIVING 

On her social media platforms, Clenci shares insights on mindful living—encouraging others to eat well, hydrate, and honor their bodies as sacred vessels. She sees health not as a quick fix, but as an ongoing dialogue between self, environment, and society. To those navigating their own challenges, she offers this advice: “Being able to embrace your vulnerability is your greatest strength. Sometimes the person who is less qualified is the person who is most qualified to speak. At the end of the day, all we want is to be vulnerable, be yourself, and be able to connect with others.” Her story affirms the timeless wisdom of Asian traditions: that true well-being is found in the balance of all things—body and mind, family and community, spirit and environment. In this harmony, Elizabeth Clenci continues to live—and to inspire—a life of health, purpose, and service. As she says, “Life is bigger than you, and life is about service.” 

INCANDESCENCE THROUGH ADVERSITY 

Yet, beyond balance alone, there is something luminous in the way Clenci has lived her life—a quality best captured by the word incandescent. Not merely glowing, but burning with a fierce inner light born of struggle, clarity, and compassion. To be incandescent is to shine not despite hardship, but because of it. Clenci’s journey—through cultural duality, physical pain, and emotional endurance—has lit a path for others, transforming personal challenge into radiant purpose.