WOW Pinoy: Models

Filipina teens from Cebu win top spots in Florida pageant

Written by Ms. Confuse on Monday, August 04, 2008

Keisha Belonique Abelgas was crowned National American Miss Florida Junior Preteen last June 27 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Hotel in Orlando, Florida. She is an incoming fourth grade student at the Deer Park Elementary School in New Port Richey, Florida. Keisha competed against 130 other girls from around the state. She earned the crowned, banner, trophy, modeling scholarship to John Robert Powers Modeling School and a $1000 cash award.

She also received her transportation costs to the National Pageant which will be held in Anaheim, California during Thanksgiving week. The November trip will also include a special day in Disneyland and a tour through the famous streets of Hollywood. During the recent pageant, she was chosen as the first runner up for the casual wear modeling and the first runner up for the best resume. This is Keisha's first time to join a pageant in the U.S. Thus, it was a truly a big surprise to her and her family when her name was announced as State Queen. Keisha considers this exprience as the happiest moment of her life.

The National American Miss pageant are for "Today's Girl" and "Tomorrow's Leaders". The pageant program is based on inner beauty, as well poise, communication and presentation and offers an "all-American spirit of fun for family and friends." The pageant seeks to recognize the accomplishments of each girl while encouraging her to set goals for the future. Keisha is very excited to go to California for the first time and visit Hollywood and Disneyland. She will be representing the Sunshine State of Florida in the National American Miss pageant. She hopes to do well in the international competition.

Meanwhile, Keisha's older sister, Michaela Francheska Abelgas, a soon to be 7th grader at the River Middle School, was named to the Queen's Court as first-runner up in the Preteen division of the same pageant. Both Michaela and Keisha are the daughter of Ryan and Katherine Abelgas, Filipina immigrants from Cebu City and Ormoc City, respectively nurses who immigrated to the U.S. in 2005. Michaela also received numerous awards during the recent pageant - including a $250 cash award and trophy for Best in Casual Wear Modeling: a $250 cash price and trophy for Best Actress: and another $250 cash prize and trophy for Best in Spokesmodeling.

Michaela bagged the First Runner-Up award for Miss Photogenic and is also the recipient of the Spirit of America Award from Pageantry Magazine. She walked home with the most number of awards during that night. Michaela has excelled in the field of academics and is currently enlisted in the Gifted and Double Advance Program for Exceptional Students. She is a consistent school and district winner for the Science and Engineering Fair as well as the Tropicana Public Speaking Contest for three consecutive years. She was a Guest Speaker for the TV program "Aging on Suncoast" of the Pacso County Government Access Channel following her victory as grand winner for the "My Favorite Older Person Essay Writing Contest" in Pasco County. She was also a recipient of the President's Award for Educational Excellence. Michaela dreams of becoming pediatrician someday. She hopes to make a difference in the lives of others. image by cheryl bently/suncoast news

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Charo Ronquillo - Filipina model shines in world fashion

Written by Ms. Confuse on Thursday, June 05, 2008

A Filipina model has made it to the pages of Vogue, Glamour and other top fashion and beauty magazines, through high-profile ad campaigns.

Nineteen-year-old Charo Ronquillo is touted to be the next Anna Bayle, the Filipina who was the supermodel in the '80s.

She is based in New York and plans to penetrate Paris, too.

Last year, Ronquillo did a shoot with top photographer Bruce Weber for Ralph Lauren's American Living.

Wherever she goes, Ronquillo's exotic beauty is turning heads. She's also done runway shows for Nanette Lepore, Lacoste, Zaldy for L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Tory Burch, Norma Kamali, Sisley, United Colors of Benetton, Armani Exchange and Kenneth Cole, among others.

Only a year and a half after becoming the first Asian model to make it to the top three in the Ford Models' Supermodel of the World competition, Ronquillo has shot for top retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, Ann Taylor, BCBG by Max Azria, Catherine Malandrino, J Crew. She has recently done "go-sees" for Prada, YSL, Marc Jacobs, Richard Chai, Jil Sander, Philip Lim, Valentino, Badgely Mishka, Issey Miyake and Vera Wang.

Diane Von Furstenberg likes her so much that Ronquillo has served as fitting model for the designer several times.

Work ethic

Clearly, her rise is due to both her looks and work ethic. She works almost every day, sometimes flitting across America.

She likes runway modeling—the crowd, the limelight, plus the craziness backstage, with, she said, "everyone panicked and yelling." She also enjoys the creative process of magazine work. Once, a makeup artist blackened her teeth for a shoot, and Ronquillo recalls still feeling beautiful.

First break

A native of Cabuyao, Laguna, Ronquillo and her siblings were raised by their grandmother while their mother worked overseas to support the family. She had always wanted to model and began entering contests early. But her first true break didn't come until she won the prestigious Ford Models' Supermodel of the World Philippines, produced by Runway Productions.

She not only earned representation from Asian modeling powerhouse CalCarrie's International Models, she was also placed in the hands of famed model-maker Joey Espino.

Ronquillo flew to New York for the Supermodel of the World finals. Interestingly, she was in a Diane Von Furstenberg, the designer who'd become fond of her.

Her initial two-year contract soon stretched to three when Ford saw the pace of her success.

Despite her exposure to international high fashion, Ronquillo hasn't really left home, says her mentor Espino.

"She remains at heart a proud Filipina, who always makes it a point to be available to come to the Philippines and to the home where her heart resides."

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Leah Dizon - One of Hot Pinay

Written by Ms. Confuse on Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Leah Dizon (リア・ディゾン, Ria Dizon?, born Leah Donna Dizon on September 24, 1986) is a model, singer, actress, and TV personality in Japan, born in Las Vegas, Nevada, US.[1] Her ethnicities include Chinese, Filipino and French. In 2006, she moved to Tokyo, Japan after being accepted by a Japanese talent agency for her modeling. Soon after, she began her music career releasing Japanese-language songs.

Leah Dizon was born in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her parents were casino dealers. Her father was a business man in one of the largest cities in California. She has two older brothers, an older sister, and two younger brothers. She says she grew up listening to Rock and R&B music. She took dance lessons and was in her high school theater. Dizon dreamed of pursuing a career as a singer

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Playboy to launch in Philippines, eyes mature Dads

Written by Ms. Confuse on Saturday, March 29, 2008

MANILA (Reuters) - Playboy magazine is launching in the Philippines next month and will be targeting mature men who like well-written articles and tasteful photographs of semi-nude women.

"Maxim and FHM are called laddy magazines. We can be called a Dad magazine," Beting Laygo Dolor, Playboy Philippines' editor, told Reuters on Thursday.

"We are targeting a more mature market, Filipino men, 30 and above."

"There will be no full frontal nudity."

Mens' magazines with risque photos are already sold in the Philippines, which despite being a largely Catholic country has a macho culture that encourages promiscuity.

Although rural areas are more conservative, Manila and other large cities have a relaxed attitude to sex.

Dolor, who describes himself as a "bad Catholic," said the religion's values had influenced the decision not to go for a raunchier look for the magazine.

"I don't want to be ashamed to show it to my mother," said the father of four. "I have daughters in their twenties. It's something that I want them to also enjoy. I want them to be proud of their Dad."

Founded in 1953, Playboy has some 20 local editions around the world that cater to local taste rather than simply exporting and translating its U.S. content.

The magazine will be sold across the Philippines at a cost of 199 pesos ($4.76) and 70 percent of the content will be local.

Playboy's first edition in Indonesia in 2006 sparked protests although it had no nudity and less flesh visible in the issue than many other magazines on sale in the world's most populous Muslim country. Its editor was cleared of distributing indecent pictures last year.

Dolor said he didn't expect any uproar when his magazine hits the news stands on April 3.

"It's supposed to be a very good read," he said.