“It is not only physical beauty that’s important. It’s also inner beauty. Like what the Little Prince said, ‘What is essential is invisible to the naked eye,’ and I believe that character and personality are more important than physical beauty.”
These words from Ruffa Gutierrez, spoken during the Q&A portion at Miss World 1993 when she was crowned 2nd Princess in Jamaica, still echo today. These are still manifested today through her kindness and highlighted at her Magical Gems by Isabel and Alexandria ambassadorship launch on May 20.
During the event, the brand’s owner, Harry Lopez Chua, couldn’t help but rave about Ruffa being a gift from heaven. Asked to react, Ruffa explained, “Probably, it’s the way I make people feel. It’s not the way you look, but it’s how you make people feel. And I think I have that gift of just being nice and being myself, being authentic, and I make them feel happy and special. The way I treat others is genuine.”
Her sincerity and kindness are qualities that have endeared her to many, and she now lends her influence to promote Magical Gems, emphasizing beauty that’s rooted in authenticity.
The Davao-based entrepreneur volunteered to speak and appreciate Ruffa. Harry volunteered, “I just want to share because when I first met her at Manila Pen [Peninsula], I was nervous because I was meeting a celebrity. You know, I never experienced a single ounce of negativity with her all afternoon.”
The owner was able to indirectly align Ruffa’s genuine nature of valuing quality, authenticity, and affordability with how he sources the raw materials for Magical Gems from all over the globe, meticulously designing each piece to combine exclusivity with affordability. Watch out for some of the pieces Ruffa will be wearing in her upcoming series Beauty Empire with Kyline Alcantara, Barbie Forteza, and Gloria Diaz.
On a personal note, Ruffa candidly shared a humorous piece of advice about jewelry care she learned from her mom, Annabelle Rama.
“Well, my mom always scolds me because she says I don’t know how to take care of jewelry like her. She says that when I return [the pieces], they’re already dirty, stained by makeup,” she said. “She would always remind me that when you have jewelry, you have to take care of it, wipe it clean, and treat it as an investment because it’s really an investment that you can use until the end of time and pass down to your children.”
Ruffa’s perspective on happiness and love is something she also passes on to her children. Advocating for her children, Ruffa shared her heartfelt advice: “I always just tell them that one day if they get married, I want them to be with someone who’s God-fearing, somebody who’s industrious, and someone who loves them more than they love the person.”
Ruffa acknowledged her journey through challenges, especially her marriage to Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektas. Years ago, she left behind a 13-carat diamond engagement ring given by her ex-husband, choosing her freedom. Her mother, Annabelle, reassured her that her freedom was more important and that she would be able to rebuild her life in the Philippines. Ruffa shared with confidence, “And rebuild is what I did.”
“About happiness, you have to be whole and happy as a person,” Ruffa emphasized. “The love life doesn’t make you. It doesn’t define who you are. It should just be an addition to make you happy. On my own, I’m already truly happy.” As she gives her children the same advice, Ruffa jokingly said, “I always brainwash them. I think I succeeded.”
Ruffa’s daughters Lorin and Venice, now in their early twenties and studying in the United States, are her pride and focus. “In showbiz, opportunities will come, and for me, the most important thing is their education,” she emphasized. Ruffa balances her own pursuits with supporting her children’s dreams.
At 50, Ruffa defies conventional standards of age and beauty. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from the Philippine Women’s University in 2022 and is on her way to earning a master’s degree in Communication by 2026—currently working on her thesis.
When asked about how she perceives aging, Ruffa shared, “For me, it’s part of life. They say that aging is a gift. I had a friend that passed away yesterday, and she was younger than me, and I remember she kept saying, ‘Oh, I’m going to visit you in the Philippines,’ and unfortunately, it’s never gonna happen. I think aging, we should just accept that it’s part of life. What’s important is to age gracefully. We’re not 25 anymore, but just take care of our skin, our health. Be around the people that we love. And let us not entertain toxic and stressful relationships.”
Her outlook on aging is rooted in acceptance and self-care.
Given the blessing of beauty in different aspects of her life, I asked Ruffa what will make her life even more magical than it already is. “My life will be more magical if I get to spend another decade or more with my parents,” Ruffa expressed. “I think that’s going to be magical because when you’re a mom and are much older, you realize that you want to spend more time with your family.”
The Magical Gems endorser also shared her dream of going on a solo adventure. “I haven’t been on a solo trip in a long time. I want to go to Africa alone and spend time with the animals and Mother Nature,” she revealed.
Asked what she would be if she were a gemstone, Ruffa confidently quipped, “I’m definitely going to be a diamond because diamonds are forever.” She continued to describe the beauty of a diamond, “It’s flawless, unique. It inspires me to be the best version of myself because it’s the way that the diamond makes you feel.”
