...the Asia's top models 2014

Filipina is 'Asia's Next Top Model' runner-up

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

04/10/2014

 

 

Jodilly PendrePhoto from the official website of 'Asia's Next Top Model'

MANILA - A Filipina finished runner-up in the second cycle of "Asia's Next Top Model," the Asia-Pacific edition of the hit reality show for aspiring models created by Tyra Banks.

Twenty-year-old Jodilly Pendre, who hails from Mandaluyong, placed second to Malaysia's Sheena Liam, who won a modeling contract with London-based Storm Model Management, among others, as "Asia's Next Top Model."

Another Filipina, 21-year-old Katarina Rodriguez from Makati, placed third among 16 contestants from 12 countries in Asia, including Singapore, Japan, China, and South Korea.

For their final challenge, the top three contenders had a photo shoot inspired by "kampong" or village life in Malaysia, where the entire season was held. They also took the runway in designs by Jonathan Liang, Ghea Panggabean, and Albert Andrada.

Sheena Liam. Photo from the official website of 'Asia's Next Top Model'

For the finale, the regular judges -- host Nadya Hutagalung, model Joey Mead King, photographer Mike Rosenthal, and movement coach Adam Williams -- were joined by Harber's Bazaar creative director Kenneth Goh and Asian supermodel Ling Tan.

Pendre, who broke down in tears after Liam was announced winner, dedicated her stint in "Asia's Next Top Model" to her mother.

"If I win this competition, my mom will be so proud of me," Pendre said in the earlier part of the show's 13th and final episode. "She actually doesn't know that this is for, because everything I do is for her."

"I want to give her a better future. I want to show her that she still has a daughter [who] is willing to give everything for her, because I really want to fulfill her dreams. I am not here for fame. I am here because I have a purpose to be here. I have a reason."

Katarina Rodriguez. Photo from the official website of 'Asia's Next Top Model'

While also emotional, Rodriguez considered her top-three finish an accomplishment, saying she never thought she would reach the end of the competition.


"I did reach the top three. I feel very accomplished," she said. "I didn't think I could ever make it this far. This is definitely farther than I ever could've dreamed of making."

Last year, the Philippines' Stephanie Retuya similarly placed second in the first-ever edition of "Asia's Next Top Model."

Apart from her modeling contract, 22-year-old Liam also took home a Subaru car, a contract as the 2014 endorser of haircare brand TRESemme, a chance to appear on the covers of Harper's Bazaar Singapore and Malaysia, and SGD 50,000.

 

...the Asia's Next Top Model Season 2 hopefuls

Two Filipinas represent Philippines in ‘Asia’s Next Top Model’ season 2


            

By Eunice Blanco

philstar.com

January 15, 2014

 

Who between Jodilly Pendra (left) and Katarina Rodriguez (right) will come out on top as “Asia’s Next Top Model”?-PR Photo

 

 

MANILA, Philippines- Two Filipinas are representing the Philippines in the second season of “Asia’s Next Top Model.”

Jodilly Pendra and Katarina Rodriguez are the two Pinays who were lucky to be included among the show's 16 contestants.

In a presscon held Tuesday afternoon, January 14, the entertainment press got to know them better.

Jodilly, 20 years old, took up and finished an Information System course at the University of Santo Tomas. Still, she says, she is not a "computer nerd", but someone who "sometimes loves to program.”

Prior to joining the modeling contest, Jodilly or Jody to those close to her, has been in the modeling industry for four years already and has helped her pay for school.

She was given a partial scholarship at the UST, but she says that her family could not afford to pay the rest of her tuition.

“I was forced to model, to go into the modeling industry because I needed to pursue my studies,” she relates. “I really, really wanted to finish my studies because my father died before I graduated from college.”

With her perseverance and dedication, Jody was able to finish her studies and now finally decided to pursue her dream of joining “Asia’s Next Top Model.”

“Gusto ko talaga sumali ng Asia’s Next Top Model pero ayaw ko na habang nag-aaral ako kasi mapipilitan ako mag-stop. So nang nakita ko ulit ‘yon, nag-audition ako.”

Meanwhile, the other Filipina who made it to the competition is the 21-year-old Katarina or Kat as she’s fondly called.

 

 

Unlike Jody, Kat didn’t have any experience in modeling, since she’s very focused with her studies as she’s currently taking a double major in philosophy and business management at the De La Salle University, and also a member of the university's track and field varsity team.

“I joined the show because I always wanted to try and go for it,” she said. And thanks to her friends who encouraged her, she finally had the guts to give modeling a shot.

“My barkada really believed in me, they pushed me to at least audition,” she recalled, which she said happened during her 21st birthday. “They were saying, ‘you’re 21, you’re getting old.’ So I auditioned and actually got in.”

But then, her grandfather whom she describes as “conservative” at first didn’t approve of her plans.
So with the help of her relatives, “he allowed it and I think he saw that I had my time of my life there.”

Representing Philippines

The two Filipinas are “excited” and “proud” to represent the Philippines in the competition.

“The pressure is on!” Kat says with a laugh. “My mentality during the show, I’m not only representing the Philippines, but I’m also representing all the younger girls.”

While on the other hand, Jody says, “Sobra lakas ng fighting spirit ko. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko, I won’t be pressured pag ando’n na ko sa model house.

“I’m here, I will focus, I’m here to win and I’m here to give pride to Filipinos. So more on excitement ang naramdaman ko kaysa pressure kasi I really enjoyed being there.”

The two are not yet allowed to reveal who won the competition, though they’re already done taping the whole second season.

Yet they admit that the experience in joining “Asia’s Next Top Model” has changed their lives a lot.

“It is a process,” Kat replies. “It is a big change especially I’m balancing school, and track [and field] and this. And I want to promote myself and this show as much as I can. So you know it’s really time management, so I’m really busier than I was before.”

For Jody, who says joining the competition is a dream come true, relates that “I learned how to present myself. I learned how to manage my emotions when you’re with other types of people. You know, when you’re with the other girls [and] they have different culture, so it’s really hard for me.”

Will one of Jody and Kat take home the title this season? Catch the season 2 of “Asia’s Next Top Model” on TV5 starting Thursday, January 16, after “For Love or Money.”

 

...the Filipino supermodel

Model man

How a career in fashion found Paolo Roldan, Filipino-Canadian male supermodel

By Maris A. Mortel

 

 

Manila Bulletin

Published: June 7, 2013

 

Paolo Roldan at the press interview session at the Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2013.

 

With his 6’2” height and sculpted, muscled physique, it’s not surprising to know that international runway and print model Paolo Roldan didn’t initially dream of becoming a professional model.

Instead, he wanted to become a professional basketball player. Born in the Philippines, Paolo moved to Canada with his family as a young boy. But he would later return to his birth country to try to pursue a career in the sport. “Actually, my first passion was basketball,” shares Paolo in a one-on-one interview during his recent trip to Manila for the Bench Body Holiday 2013 show. “I actually came back to the Philippines to play basketball. Unfortunately it didn’t work out for me.” It was after this frustrated attempt that he decided to take up civil engineering as his undergraduate course. Yet after completing his studies, Paolo chose to heed the call of another path. “I went back to Toronto and a friend advised me to try something new. And that’s how I got into fashion. I started as a retail guy, and from there I became a buyer, then a creative director, and so on and so forth.”

It was when he was on a trip as a fashion buyer in New York that Paolo’s life began an amazing twist, where he was discovered by no less than Boss Models New York founder and owner David Bossman. Despite having the model build, Paolo never saw himself modeling while he was growing up. “I mean, I’ve always been asked [to] since I was younger. But my parents were all about just getting your education, getting a normal job,” he says. “[When I got asked again] I just thought maybe I should try it because it keeps happening over and over.” And the rest is history in the making.

Paolo began his modeling career on a high note, walking the Fashion Weeks in New York and Paris, appearing in the buff in a daring editorial for Vogue Paris—which certainly increased his profile—and landing a major Givenchy ad campaign. While his early body of work may precede him, three years into the industry and he is still going strong. This year, Paolo has walked the men’s show for designer brands Michael Bastian, Giorgio Armani, Diesel, Phillip Plein, among others; his most recent catwalk being for Bench Body during the Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2013 show.

Paolo sees his entry into the fashion industry as a “natural progression,” an interest he credits to his mother, “who’s been dressing me up since I was a little baby!” and something that is in his blood, “an uncle of my dad is actually a designer here in the Philippines, Aureo Alonzo.” Today, Paolo’s personal style changes according to his moods. “Right now I love heritage brands, mainly Double RL, it has a very manly look. But I do like to get suited up and look dapper once in a while.”

One could say that modeling for a popular underwear brand is also a natural progression, reason why today Paolo is Bench Body’s latest endorser. The campaign, shot in New York, was styled by Noel Manapat and photographed by Brent Chua, also an international male model. This could be the reason why Paolo was immediately comfortable with Brent and relaxed at the shoot, even though it was their first time to meet. “Bench contacted my agency in New York. I was actually foreseeing or hoping, at least, for something like that happening. So I was really happy and my agent contacted me about it,” shares Paolo. The images show off his perfectly sculpted body in Bench Body’s athletic-inspired underwear, designed with colorful piping and in contrasting colors.

Despite the tough, bad-boy look his images project, with his serious stares and stoic face, “I’m not technically a bad boy (laughs),” says Paolo. “I may look (does serious face), I mean that’s what looks best. But I’m very (smiling, makes a heart sign with his hands).” A trait that is certain to make him even more irresistible.

 

...the Germany's Next Top Model designer

Furne One works with Heidi Klum for Germany's Next Top Model

 

By Majah Moralde

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

03/18/2013

 

 

DUBAI - Dubai-based fashion designer Furne One, who hails from Cebu City in the Philippines, is again making waves in the fashion scene in Europe as his designs have recently been featured in the pilot episode of Europe’s top-rating reality TV show, Germany’s Next Top Model (GNTM).

 

Prior to this, fashion models also donned his haute couture designs in the season finale of the US reality TV show, America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), hosted by renowned supermodel Tyra Banks last November.

Furne designed more than 40 pieces for the season opening of GNTM, hosted by world-famous supermodel Heidi Klum, who personally visited him in Dubai for the location shoot of the TV show.
He has been designing for Klum and her TV program for around seven years now.

“Working with Heidi, to begin with, is really a privilege for me considering that she’s a superstar. She’s a supermodel and it’s a top-rating showing in Europe in Germany,” he said.

Klum, and her popular show GNTM, has helped him carve a niche in the international fashion scene. He is now one of the sought-after designers in Hollywood.

“Aside from the European market, it also opened doors for me with the celebrities in America like Katy Perry, because every season Heidi is bringing in pop superstars to perform in Germany. It’s a huge thing. It’s a very big event. It’s a live show and held in a stadium of about 25,000 people watching,” he said.

Furne also counts Shakira and Jennifer Lopez among his long list of famous clientele.
At this stage, he is preparing his awe-inspiring designs for the season finale of GNTM, which will be aired in May.

 

...the Asia's Next Top Models

Pinay Stephanie Retuya Wins First Runner-Up In Asia’s Next Top Model

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

Manila Bulletin

February 18, 2013

 

 

Stephanie is a ‘part-time model and a full-time mother to a baby girl’ (‘Asia’s Next Top Model website)

MANILA, Philippines - Stephanie Retuya is still on a high after finishing first runner-up in “Asia’s Next Top Model (AsNTM)” held Feb. 17 in Singapore.

Jessica Amornkuldilok of Thailand walked away with the top prize while Kate Ma of Taiwan ranked third.

“For everyone who continuously supported me on this once in a lifetime journey thank you so much!!!! God Bless Everyone!” Stephanie tweeted Sunday night.

In the first cycle of “AsNTM,” an adaptation of the hit fashion reality show “America’s Next Top Model,” Stephanie was regarded an “underdog,” holding the record for the most times in the bottom two (five to be exact), and with no best photo award garnered.

Nevertheless, as what was posted on the “AsNTM” official Facebook fan page, “She’s also right behind the other two finalists in the number of appearances she’s had in the top three! With five top three spots under her belt to Kate’s six and Jessica’s seven.”

For their final challenge, the Top 3 ladies did a commercial for Canon IXUS, a shoot for Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore, and a runway show featuring the creations of Singaporean designer Frederick Lee.

No less than “ANTM” host-creator Tyra Banks served as guest judge.

Tyra found Stephanie’s runway walk “spectacular.”

“You have sass but you're also very sweet. This is a model now although she is not modeling,” said she.

Her magazine shoot, however, was not as stellar for Tyra.

“You were thinking strength but not giving strength,” she pointed out.

According to her bio posted in the “AsNTM” website, Stephanie began modeling about a year ago but had to set it aside when she got pregnant. Now, she's a “part-time model and a full-time mother to a baby girl.”

For someone who used to be shy - and who've never traveled abroad - Stephanie has spread her wings by joining the competition.

“AsNTM” is hosted by Nadya Hutagalung, with fashion director Daniel Boey, fashion photographer Todd Anthony Tyler, and model-mentor Joey Mead King in the judging panel.