Jojo Bragais (Profile photo by Mark Neto Diaz)
Filipino pageant fans rejoiced over the weekend as Miss Universe 2020 announced homegrown brand Bragais as its official shoe sponsor. The brand makes history as the first Filipino footwear brand to showcase in the prestigious pageant, joining the likes of global footwear brands Chinese Laundry, Payless Shoe Source, and Stuart Weitzman.
But before his shoes made it to international beauty pageants, the journey to the success of his business is not as easy as clicking your heels three times. Believe it or not, the making of his brand is a product of a dark time in his life. Sad and depressed, Jojo moved from Bicol to Rizal and discovered an old shoe factory. He checked it out, and relying on his gut feel, bought it and started a business.