Before the lights, the octagon, and the roaring UFC crowds, Red Dela Cruz was just another woman trying to make ends meet in Manila. She was juggling jobs working a corporate 9-to-5 and doing part-time modeling gigs on the side.
Now, she’s a full-time UFC ring girl making waves in the global MMA scene, and she’s doing it all while staying grounded and unapologetically herself.
In 2015, Red made history as the first Filipina to become a UFC Octagon Girl after winning the UFC Asia’s Octagon Girl Search. “I didn’t think I’d win because I didn’t have many followers then, and I wasn’t that popular,” she admitted in an interview.
But her drive and quiet confidence proved otherwise. She beat out contestants from across Asia, not just because of her looks, but because of her discipline, work ethic, and undeniable charisma.
Red’s foray into UFC was a slow grind. “Back then I was working in a BPO company and modeling on weekends,” she said. Becoming a ring girl wasn’t the glamorous jump people imagined; it was a leap of faith built on years of hustling multiple gigs just to pay the bills.
She credits her determination to her upbringing. “We didn’t have much growing up. I saw how hard my parents worked and I wanted to help,” she said in an interview, where she also opened up about the pressure of always proving herself in a male-dominated industry.
Now based in Australia, Red has made her UFC role a full-time gig. Beyond walking around the Octagon, she’s become a recognizable face in fitness, lifestyle, and wellness.
She’s been featured in Women’s Fitness Magazine Australia, and regularly connects with her followers through her blog and social media, where she talks about everything from strength training to mental health.
Red’s authenticity has become her strongest asset. “I always try to keep it real. I share my struggles, my bad days, my fitness journey, not just the highlights,” she told UFC. For many of her fans, especially young Filipinas, Red is a symbol of possibility.
“I want to show that you don’t have to be born into privilege to make it. You just have to keep showing up, work hard, and be kind,” she said.
What makes Red stand out is how she’s redefined what it means to be a ring girl in 2025. It’s not just about walking the Octagon anymore—it’s about building a personal brand, empowering others, and showing up as your full self.
In a world where women are often boxed into roles or judged for their appearance, Red Dela Cruz is breaking stereotypes with discipline. She’s proof that you can start from the sidelines and still own the spotlight.
