From ‘PBB’ to Miss Universe UAE: Get to know Franki Russell
For Pinoys, no matter which country you choose to represent in a beauty pageant, they will always be there to support you.
Ever since former Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) housemate Franki Russell announced that she was joining the first-ever Miss Universe United Arab Emirates pageant, her Filipino fans couldn't stop talking about it—especially now that she has made it to the Top 30 Finalists.
Most of us know her from her PBB days not so long ago, but some are still curious to find out more about the "Wandering Stunner ng New Zealand." Read more below.
She grew up in New Zealand
Russell was born to a New Zealander-European father and a Filipina mother. She grew up in Dunedin, New Zealand but moved to Sydney, Australia when she was 18 years old with her older brother.
In 2019, she moved to the Philippines to work as a professional model, and eventually became a housemate on PBB and the face of Organic Skin Japan.
She starred in a TV series
After PBB, Russell and Diana Mackey, one of the most famous tandems in the reality show, joined the cast of ABS-CBN's FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. They were the newest members of “Cardo’s Angels” alongside Phoebe Walker, Stacey Gabriel, Louise Gertrude, and Jach Manere.
She vlogs
On the side, Russell likes to document her life through her vlogs. Her lifestyle vlog, which has earned a Silver Play Button, tackles anything and everything—from life in the Philippines, to travel diaries, and her unique adventures.
She was once linked to Marlon Stockinger
Yes, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach's ex boyfriend.
In an interview with Boy Abunda in 2020, Russell said that she and Marlon Stockinger were in the "getting to know" stage.
"Getting to know each other po. As in, friends kami, we're hanging out with groups and just enjoying getting to know each other. We're single po. He's single and I'm single. I see nothing wrong with that," she told the talk show host.