Why the ‘Fuschia’ shoe matters to Filipino trans community

A familiar name in the world of pageantry footwear has added a new iconic pair to his collection, this time paying tribute to a celebrated Filipino trans beauty queen. Miss International Queen 2022, Fuschia Anne Ravena, now joins an esteemed list of muses honored by international Filipino shoe designer Jojo Bragais.

Ravena, who made history as the third winner from the Philippines in the prestigious international pageant for transgender women, recently received a special delivery. Her unboxing video, shared on Jojo Bragais' social media, captured her emotional reaction upon discovering that the stunning new pageant shoes she held bore her name: "Fuschia."

"Seeing it for the first time, I was shocked," Ravena shared about the moment. "I asked about the shoe’s name, because the designs have their own names. I was just expecting just another Bragais model." This unexpected recognition clearly held deep meaning for the beauty queen.

The newly named "Fuschia" shoe is designed for the pageant stage, featuring a striking 6.5-inch heel complemented by platforms and secure straps. It's available in two distinct colorways: a classic nude, frequently seen in pageantry, and a combination of pink and blue.

The choice of pink and blue is particularly significant. Ravena explained, "The nude color is the common shoe that is used in pageants, while the pink and blue colors embody the trans flag." She added, "The Fuschia shoes represent trans Pinays, and using it on the Miss International Queen Philippines stage is one for the books. Bragais has always been our trusted shoes in pageantry. And now, it’s an iconic symbol of our community’s excellence and pride."

The "Fuschia" shoe indeed made its debut as the official footwear for the Miss International Queen Philippines 2025 pageant, where Anne Patricia Lorenzo was crowned.

Jojo Bragais is renowned for naming his popular pageant shoe designs after some of the Philippines' most successful beauty queens. Bestsellers include the "Pia" (Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach), the "Kylie" (Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa), and the "Megan" (Miss World 2013 Megan Young). More recent additions to the lineup feature pairs named after Miss Universe Asia 2024 Chelsea Manalo and Miss World Asia 2025 Krishnah Gravidez.

Ravena shared that while every beauty queen dreams of such an honor, she never truly expected to join the ranks of her idols with her own tribute shoe. "I admire the other queens with their own tributes, they are my idols," she said. "And I thought, wow, how lucky I am. Now, having my own is surreal, it’s an incredible honor."

Expressing her gratitude to Bragais, Ravena thanked him for acknowledging and honoring Filipino transgender women through his artistry. "Salamat at binigyan mo ng pagkakataon na mabigyan ng karangalan ang mga trans Pinay through your craft," she conveyed, adding, "Continue to be an inspiration to everyone, we are grateful to have you, and we love you."