Kathleen “Kai” Espenido, a Filipino-Australian beauty queen, actor, surfer, and fashion model, is currently among the official candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2025. Representing Siargao, she holds the number 18 spot and is pursuing the opportunity to win a coveted national crown.
Kathleen experienced a significant loss when her father, Frank, passed away, leaving her mother, Liezl — who manages their hostel in Siargao — to take care of the family. “Still reeling from my dad’s passing, Typhoon Odette ravaged Siargao in 2021 and destroyed our livelihood, leaving us with nothing,” she says. As the eldest in the family, she felt a strong sense of responsibility and sought out opportunities in Manila. Although she describes herself as an introvert, Kathleen decided to join Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10 in order to help support her family.
“It was a good thing that I joined because I learned how to react to situations better and the experience boosted my self-confidence,” the 21-year-old recalls. With the cash prize she received from the show, she began rebuilding their life in Siargao, while showing others that it is possible to rise from difficult circumstances. Today, their hostel is thriving.
Growing up in Siargao, Kathleen recalls being one of the few biracial girls on the island. “I was often teased by my fellow islanders to pursue being an actress or be a beauty queen. But I was very young and I didn’t take that seriously,” she says. That changed when she saw Catriona Gray win the Miss Universe crown in 2018. At just 14 years old then, she was inspired to follow a similar path. When her family moved to Butuan to give her better access to education, she joined Mutya ng Butuan and finished as first runner-up. From then on, she made pageantry a priority.
Kathleen is currently the reigning Miss Fit Philippines, a title she earned in July 2024. Her next step? To win in Binibining Pilipinas. She is currently undergoing training in all aspects of the competition under Reign Project Management, led by Paul Izon Reyes and Jam Aquino. “I’m really blessed to have amazing mentors and a team which is with me every step of the way. I just really need to focus on myself, be religious in my fitness training, and be mindful of the decisions I make.”
Kathleen has her advocacy initiative, the K.A.I. Project. K.A.I. stands for Knowledge, Action, Inspiration and aims to empower individuals to take positive steps in their lives, creating a community that promotes growth and resilience. “I especially want to help single mothers, because I saw how my own mom financially struggled after my father passed on. Abandoned and neglected children are also close to my heart, and those who belong to underprivileged families,” she says. On her birthday, she distributed hygiene kits to around 100 children at Nayon ng Kabataan in Mandaluyong. She also joined fellow Binibining Pilipinas candidates in visiting a DSWD center in Pasay.
Looking ahead, Kathleen plans to launch her own swimwear brand. She also hopes to make an impact in the fashion industry while promoting empowerment. Having experienced body-shaming for being “too skinny,” she reflects, “I am not happy that it happened. No one deserves anything like that. But somehow, I am grateful for the experience because it prodded me to focus only on the positive side of situations. I am strong, and I have set lofty goals. I may never be enough for others but for myself, and those who love me, I am more than enough.”
Many young people look up to her, but when asked who she admires most, Kathleen points to her mother. “She’s independent and she’s the one who shaped me to be this person that I am today.” She also expresses gratitude to her supporters: “Thank you! It is a good feeling to have this support system as I vie for the Binibining Pilipinas title.”
Binibining Pilipinas 2025 will be held on June 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
