If you have attended any Filipino community events in Hong Kong or Macau over the years, you’ll almost certainly be familiar with Mika Guidotti. 

Known by her kababayans (fellow Filipinos) for her infectious energy and witty observations, Mika has become a mainstay on the local events circuit, establishing herself as a highly sought-after emcee for everything from fashion shows to beauty pageants, from anniversaries to hosting the annual Philippine Independence Day celebrations on Chater Road. 

Mika’s magnetic charm, coupled with an innate ability to engage and entertain audiences, has made her a favourite amongst event organisers and attendees alike for many years.

Ilocana at heart

Before all the glitz and drama of the Hong Kong and Macau stages, Mika grew up as a precocious young child in the Philippines. Born and raised in La Union in the Illocos region – her father hailing from Tarlac and her mother from La Union – Mika is an Ilocana through and through. 

Ilocanos are known to be hardworking and frugal, and hardy in the face of adversity. They live simply, concentrating on work and productivity, while respect and humility in everyday dealings are a mark of the Ilocano personality. “I love working with people, hence my gravitation towards work in hospitality. But I always give 100% with any job I sign up for; be it hosting events or entertaining guests, I am a reliable person, especially when it comes to work,” says Mika.

Mika moved to Hong Kong in 2006 at the age of 12. It was a huge change from growing up in the Philippines, but she attributes her resilience and ability to adapt to how her parents raised her. “I had a normal childhood, maybe apart from a lot of my immediate family being beauty queens in our town!” she laughs. “My mom was a beauty queen, and so were her other four sisters. But one of my aunts was a keen pageant contestant. I was always so interested in everything that went into the preparation: the gowns, sashes, makeup, and of course, the hard work they put into it,” she reminisces. 

Pathway to pageantry

The Philippines has a strong and enduring beauty pageant culture, with contests held up and down the country, from small towns to major cities. Filipinos are known for their passion and enthusiasm for pageants, viewing them as a source of national pride, especially when a Filipino queen wins an international title. The country has achieved significant global success and is widely considered a beauty pageant powerhouse in major international contests. 

Inspired by family traditions, Mika competed in her first beauty pageant during her first year of high school, when she was just 11 years old. In a school contest named Ganda ng pare ko – “My dude is so beautiful” in English – she placed a very respectable 3rd runner up, though that was only the start of things to come; Mika went on to achieve considerable success in pageants during those early high school years.

Far from stopping her in her tracks, moving away from the Philippines in 2006 only served to amplify Mika’s success, as she quickly found her feet in the thriving beauty pageant scene of Hong Kong’s overseas Filipino worker (OFW) community. 

To this day, Filipinos’ love for pageants is evident in all corners of the city, with events held in a wide variety of venues (often depending on the scale and budget), from Bayanihan Centre to Chater Road, from Hong Kong Convention Centre to the underpass near Admiralty. Those who join get a chance to showcase their talents and celebrate their beauty, a welcome break from their hard work during the week. The events foster a strong sense of community and belonging, with supportive friends helping participants with styling, preparations, cheering, and, oftentimes, raising cash donations for the organiser.

Being a beauty queen has its rewards – accolades, recognition, fame – though it comes with its fair share of challenges, too: pressure, long and exhausting preparation/rehearsals, and the financial burden of competing can all take their toll. “In the pageant circuits I’ve joined, you need at least HKD 30,000 [to compete], but often you end up spending even more leading up to the competition date,” says Mika. “I need to pay for the gowns and the other outfits, the designer, the stylist, the photographer, the videographer, transportation, food and accommodation [if held outside Hong Kong] for my entourage on the day.

“It can be an expensive endeavour. Kaya minsan, nakakasakit ng loob kung hindi ka mananalo. Lahat ng hirap, pagod at gastos, naiisip mo siya at that moment. At kung gaano katodo yung effort mo,” [It can > be an expensive endeavour. That’s why sometimes it can sting when you don’t win. At that moment, you briefly think about the difficulties, tiredness and cost. And how much effort you put into the contest] she shares.

Still, despite the hardships, the thrill of the competition was enough to keep Mika involved in the beauty pageant scene for almost two decades, before formally announcing her retirement last year. During this time, she received numerous accolades, including a return to her home province in 2012 to be crowned Queen La Union Tourism, which saw her competing against many heavy hitters in the trans pageant circuit. Her last competition was in Macau in late 2024, where she won 2nd runner up for Queen Iconic Universe 2024 and was the most awarded candidate overall with a whopping seven awards, including Queen People’s Choice, Queen Photogenic, and Queen Angelic Face.

Master of ceremonies

Live variety shows are another much-loved spectacle among Hong Kong’s OFW community. Every Sunday, shows take place across the city: community group anniversaries, singing competitions, fashion shows, corporate-sponsored celebrity performances, Philippine Consulate events, amongst many others. A big part of keeping these programmes running smoothly are the emcees and presenters, seamlessly guiding the audience through the show, introducing each segment, guest, or award. 

“Enjoy talaga ako sa paghohost. Marami akong nakikilala at napapasaya natin ang ating mga kababayan,” [I really enjoy hosting. I get to meet a lot of people, and I get to entertain my kababayans] smiles Mika. 

Emceeing – derived from the term ‘master of ceremonies’ or simply ‘M.C.’ – is a special kind of talent. A successful emcee must be quick-witted, speak clearly and concisely, and maintain grace under pressure, while looking presentable at all times. Dealing with last-minute programme changes, incorrect information from the stage director, or a sudden turn of the weather, can derail an organiser’s best-laid plans, and it is up to the emcee to keep the ball rolling and keep the audience informed and engaged. Mika possesses all these traits in spades.

Being born into a family of musicians, performers, and pageant queens, Mika had a great foundation laid for her future career. Even if she has no memories of his performances, Mika recalls that her grandfather, Ka (brother) Boy – a successful saxophone player and drummer in the 70s – was an influence in her life, as she was always surrounded by lots of musical instruments at home. 

Her dad retired from Hong Kong three years ago to start a music production company back in their hometown, bringing together musicians of all styles, from classical to bands, to local events, parties, and showcases. Asked if she wants to be a part of the family business, however, she replies confidently, “I am fiercely independent and I want to work on things on my own.”

On the catwalk

In 2015, Mika was discovered by Stuart, owner of 360 Models HK, an inclusive modelling agency based (at that time) in Discovery Bay. She quickly made an impact, appearing on the catwalk at HK Fashion Week 2016, but her biggest break came when she was asked to model for a fall-winter 2015-2016 campaign for Taiwanese French designer, Herbert Cheung. Billboards, magazine campaigns, fashion shows in different countries – it was a whirlwind for young Mika.  “It was such a fun time in my life, and I learned so much. Being trans and Asian was already quite a hurdle to break into modelling, so I am grateful to be able to get the experience,” she muses.

Struggles with depression

It hasn’t been all glamour and good times for Mika. As with many others, the COVID-19 pandemic hit her hard. Being an extrovert who thrives in the company of others, being in isolation was a challenge. “Sobrang nag-struggle talaga ako [I really struggled]. I fell into depression. I couldn’t spend time with my friends, all of us at work had our salaries reduced and were still in a precarious position of [potentially] being laid off; I worried for my family back in the >

Philippines, and knew a few people who passed away from COVID,” says Mika.

“What really helped me overcome my depression was seeing a psychiatrist and having my condition properly diagnosed. He gave me some excellent holistic advice which included running – [it] really changed the way I felt about my body and kept my mind busy – and also journaling, [which] I still do every day, detailing my triumphs, big or small, my hardships, how I overcame them, and a lot of things that I am grateful for,” she shares. “I want to speak about my experiences so that people who are going through the same don’t feel so alone. We’re all different, but there is comfort in knowing that you are not alone in this. It is okay to not be okay, just keep in mind that this is not the end,” Mika shares.

Full steam ahead

Now working full-time as a Guest Relations Executive for Top Town, a glamorous art deco styled restaurant and bar up on the 31st floor of 28 Stanley Street, Mika can put her multitude of skills to good use. Well-loved by patrons and co-workers alike, she feels at home in the hospitality world.

As she continues to represent trans women individuals in the Filipino community in Hong Kong, Mika shows no signs of slowing down. With her talent, charisma, and unwavering dedication to creating positive change, Mika Guidotti is a shining example of what it means to live authentically and fearlessly in a world that often seeks to confine and limit us.