Multifaceted: Miss Universe

By Anika Brown, December 12, 2008

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A young poet's new book tackles tough lessons with style.

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You know the image of the listless, apathetic twenty-something? How about the aloof fashionista, personality bloated with snobbery and shallowness?

Ruby Veridiano-Ching turns those (and many other) stereotypes on their heads.

Already a world-traveling spoken word artist, youth educator and VJ, this modern-day Renaissance woman recently added a new accomplishment to her list: published author.

Clad in thick Run-D.M.C.-style glasses and a classic pair of gold bamboo earrings, Veridiano-Ching is just as engaging and genuine in person as in her writing. Our conversation touched on everything from the aesthetic value of Kanye's infamous blog ("I know the half naked girls are exploitative, but it’s a great site") to The Secret, to the importance of style and how she was finally convinced to publish her book after M.I.A. came to her in a dream.

Miss Universe, Veridiano-Ching’s debut book of poetry, is a candid glimpse into the author’s experiences and personality.

More importantly, it’s good. Not "good for a 25-year old," but stand-on-its-own good, which was a nice surprise considering how skeptical I was before reading it.

It's not that I don't like poetry. I live for poetry and love going to see people express themselves at slams, as long as there's substance behind it. In fact, it's my genuine love of the form that gave me pause. Much respect to anyone with the courage to perform in front of strangers, but I honestly can't shake the feeling that a lot of people are just copying the same Def Poetry episode. The clichéd cadence, hyperbolic emotion and lofty conjectures can get a little old.

A quick scan of YouTube clips featuring Veridiano-Ching and her crew, Ill-Literacy, proved that, at the very least, her performance skills outpace the average spoken word act.

However, I was still a little wary of having to review Miss Universe. Stage presence is one thing; the ability to convey emotion with nothing but letters and a sheet of paper is entirely different. What if the book (and Ms. Veridiano-Ching) were all flash and no substance?

Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about.

Miss Universe deftly covers a variety of subjects -- from the Virginia Tech shooting to her inexplicable affinity for cheesy puns. Veridiano-Ching shines brightest in poems that tackle her experiences as a female and Filipina American.

"The poems are really a collection of things written over the past four years," she told me over coffee. "Even though these are just my experiences, there are things that other people can relate to -- universal things that go beyond race, background, whatever."

In poems like "For All The Wars Inside Me," Veridiano-Ching's insecurities are articulated with an honesty that's sensitive, but never sappy or weak. Love, romance and heartbreak are all discussed with the same balance of vulnerability and confidence. The specifics may differ, but the emotion behind the writing is something all women, regardless of background, can relate to. That's not to say that men can't find a connection. It's just that it is refreshing to see characteristically "feminine" qualities and issues written about in such an unapologetic manner.

This personal and uncompromising approach is especially effective when Veridiano-Ching shifts her gaze to issues of race and culture.

Born and raised in the Philippines until the age of 10, Veridiano-Ching recounts the struggles immigrants face when trying to assimilate into a new culture without losing their heritage. The book wades into even grayer areas with an unflinching eye to the often unspoken tensions between African Americans and Asian Americans.

Using difficult stories from her past, Veridiano-Ching is able to bring insight into the prejudices that plague both cultures. We also see how much ignorance and misunderstanding, particularly within one's own family, play a part in the discord. Poetry aside, it is a testament to her character that she remains truthful to the complexities involved and refrains from blindly laying blame or exonerating either group.

"Looking back at some of the painful memories made me sort of hopeful,"she says. "My family, especially my parents, are a lot more open-minded now. I'd never really reflected on it, but I'm proud of how far they've come."

Gender and race aren't new topics of discussion, but Veridiano-Ching adds a distinctive voice to these timeless conversations. Instead of the sweeping statements that can too often ring hollow, she exposes the pitfalls and struggles of these loaded issues by examining them on a much smaller scale. Miss Universe offers a more vulnerable, personal method of expression. As a result, it has a more authentic feeling to it than the usual proselytizing and finger-pointing.

Above all, Veridiano-Ching is passionate about her craft. Sure, she enjoys traveling and meeting celebrities and would love to be rich and famous, but she is more concerned about letting any of those things go to her head and becoming a "disposable talent."

I doubt she has anything to worry about. After all, the universe won't allow it.

Anika Brown, 22, is a Fashion Merchandise major in San Francisco. Her interests include turning a critical eye to pop culture and looking at the deeper effects things like music, fashion and the media have on our lives. When not writing or doing homework, Anika designs T-shirts for her website, Ananse.