For Rhodessa Montano Belen, concluding her reign as Mrs. Asia Pacific Intercontinental 2024 was simply not the end of a journey, it was a gentle, meaningful transition marked by gratitude and quiet triumphs.
Her story came full circle during the Mrs. Asia Pacific International 2025 coronation night on December 6.
Under the bright stage lights, Belen crowned her successor, Usova Anastasiia Viktorovna of Russia, symbolically passing forward a legacy defined not just by beauty, but by purpose.
Organized by Lumiere International Pageantry under the leadership of CEO and Founder Quek Siew Bee, the pageant celebrates married women who embody leadership, advocacy, and heart.
Belen’s reign reflected that spirit. She carried her title with grace, but more importantly, she used it as a platform to guide others.
Throughout the year, Belen took on the role of mentor to four Filipina delegates. Personally handpicking and training them, she prepared Han Lamarroza, Angelica Faye Louisse Busante, Sunshine Dulay, and Novelyn Natividad for the demands of the international stage. Their success became her quiet victory. Lamarroza and Natividad both rose to the Top 5, earning titles for the Philippines and highlighting the strength of Filipina representation.
For Belen, these achievements were deeply intertwined with the personal balancing act she lived every day.
A mother to three children, Braeden, Brentt, and Brienne, and wife to Jason, she also maintains a career as a software and data engineer.
She described her reign as “a transformative chapter defined by balance, authenticity, and personal growth,” a year made possible only by the unwavering support of her family.
“My husband and children were my greatest source of strength,” she shared. “They allowed me to pursue my dreams while staying grounded.”
As her reign closes, Belen looks back not with nostalgia, but with gratitude.
“The crown is not only a symbol of achievement—it is a responsibility to uplift, inspire, and serve,” she said. “Passing it on is not an ending, but the beginning of someone else’s journey. And I am grateful to have witnessed ours shine.”
