Beyond 2000
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ale Fatale Fatale Fa
femme fatale to find out.
"Sobra talaga!" says Phoemela of the rumors. "When I met Willie at a fashion show, he asked me if I wanted
to be a host for his noontime show. I was still in school then, so hindi talaga puede." She's sitting in the Cosmo lounge looking fresh and feminine in a pink knit halter, tight jeans, and pink snakeskin in a way that only a mo- del could pull off. The face of Nizoral shampoo, XOXO candy, Whisper, Extraderm and Selecta ("Cookies and Cream!" with Aga Muhlach) takes off her aviator shades, swinging her long hair away from her face.
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For her, he was just a good friend, "despite the age gap," she laughs. "He's really mabait, even to my friends. After a while, he may have expected something. So lumayo na rin ako."
TEENAGE MILLIONAIRE?
It all began when she was 14. Phoemela decided to join
the teen clothing line Pink Soda's search for teen models. A talent scout spotted her modelling at a Pink Soda fa- shion show and asked her to do a VTR for a commercial. "I was so lucky kasi it was my very first VTR and I im- mediately got a huge project with Extraderm."
From then on, the jobs just poured in. "Ang dami talaga.
Especially after I worked abroad. I did a commercial in Hongkong, which was also aired in Taiwan and all over Asia! I did parts 2 and 3 for that commercial and it was bought by other countries. At that time, I had to stop school because I felt sayang naman ang opportunity. I
was only 18 and I earned so much money." She paid for her debut, a lavish she-bang at the Shangri-la, and bought a three bedroom condo in Mandaluyong. Now 20, she
has dicovered that money can give a girl a heady feeling. "Minsan, hindi ko na alam kung ano ang value niya. I would just buy things and spend so much. But when I thought of it, nauubos din pala kaagad. Of course, I
didn't know about investing either. But I'm happy now kasi I was able to buy a place for my mom and myself."
With her hard earned cash, Phoemela also gave herself a vacation to the States, where she stayed with her mom for almost four months. "Kakakuha ko lang ng visa ko," she says sheepishly. Her prolonged absence also caused gossip- that she is pregnant, had an abortion, etc. But the truth was she stayed longer to spend time with her half brother, who was encouraging her to take some classes in Los Angeles. "That was the time I stopped school since I worked all around Asia."
VTR for a commercial.
What most peole don't know and what she really doe- sn't talk about is her family life. Although Phoemela is now happy and successful, she did have a secret to
hide: "I was very embarrassed to tell anyone about this before, but my father and mother aren't married. My dad already had a family and my mom and I are his second family," she says. "My dad and I are okay.
He's been a part of my life ever since. He paid for my high school education. But my priority now is work because I support myself. If I don't work, I don't go to school. I get help from my dad, pero parang nahihiya ako sa kanya. So I'm paying for my college education. Although her relationship with her father is good, she admits it has afected her relationship with men. "I re- spect men. But I also keep my distance. I guess I'm afraid they'll leave me because I see my mom's situ- ation."
Despite everything, Phoemela has a positive outlook
and knows what she wants. "I really want to finish school first because I want to have my own business in the future. But before my business, I want to concen- trate on modelling for the next five years. "Model-turned-fashion entrepreneur Tina Maristela-Ocampo is her idol. "I guess I'm okay with this (modelling) now because I proved to myself that I could be someone. I mean even if you're illlegitimate, you can do something or be someone."
gitimate, you can do something
or be someone."
-Phoemela
cLiPpiNgS ! DoOdLeS ! sPeCiaL eFfEcTs !
OpiNiOnS ! ViEwS ! cOmMeNtS ! SaY aNy
tHiNg ! sEnD aNyThiNg ! wE dOn't cArE !
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Despite all attempts, technology cannot reproduce what only time and the weather can do. On the left is a photograph from the 1950's and on the right is Nina Ricci's official photograph redone to match the brown and white tones of the picture on the left. See the difference? Nina's picture is still as modern as ever ! Well, I tried.... I guess the classics will always remain in a niche of their own. Was it just the color of the photograph? NO. The two pictures are not only 50 years apart but they are worlds apart! The look, the style, the glow are all different even if both subjects are Filipinas.
..........................................................................................................................................Heimlich
Ana Marie Falcon ?
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Ana Marie Falcon ?
The striking resemblance between Marina Benipayo (leftmost), Miss Philippines Maja International 1992 and former actress turned model-some time beauty queen Ana Marie Falcon (right) is undeniable! Are they long lost twins? Queens separated at birth? Anyway, statuesque Ana Marie is also a beauty title holder, with a 1st Runner-up finish at Bodyshots 1996 and a 2nd Runner-up position at the Miss South- east Peninisula 1998 under her sleeve. Who knows? Ana Marie might follow in the footsteps of her 1992 mother clone and end up as another Miss Philippines!
..........................................................................................................................................David
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I still can't understand why she lost! Ruffa Gutierrez, Miss Philippines World and 2nd Runner-up at Miss World 1993 was by far the best among the three. Ruffa was the prettiest, she gave the best answers and had the crowd at her feet! What happened? Rumor has it that most of the pageant judges that year were blacks, and naturally, they would favor a black winner, either Miss Jamaica, the eventual winner, or Miss South Africa, the 1st Runner-up. Miss South Africa cannot win then on the basis of competing on home grounds, so Miss Jamaica ended up as the winner!.1993 was also the year when 'free' South Africa finally reconized that whites and blacks should live in harmony. What better way to promote this and at the
same time please the public than with a black winner? Coincidence or politics? Both! What a bummer!
...Pageant Fans in Filipina Essence
Ex-Miss Philippines Universe 1991
What would have happened if curvaceous and controversial ex- Miss Philippines Universe 1991 babe- Anjanette Abayari was never dethroned? Could she have given Lupita Jones a run for her money? Even though we will never really know, she could have at least been a semi-finalist or a finalist or even a run- ner-up and not just another thank you girl! This girl is just absolutely beautiful and baywatch material
that it is difficult not to give her a second look! On second thought, was it also destiny's decision not to allow her to carry on the title of Miss Philippines Universe because of her very controversial nature? Judge for yourselves! Years later, controversy after controversy erupted from cases of unwanted nudity,
alleged participation in compromising roles, and not to mention illegal drug charges! What's next? Only one thing to say, beauty sometimes brings out the 'beast' in you. Enough said!
...Pageant Fan
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Miss Philippines World 1993
How many ex-title holders have fallen from grace after relinqui-shing their titles? 1982 Miss Philippines Universe Isabel Lopez became a bold star right after her reign, not thinking that the title of Miss Philippines is for life even if you only wear the crown for a year!
Being Miss Philippines is not only about gowns and crowns but above all, being a role model of good and educated behavior that people can look up to. Has anyone ever lived up to this?
Charlene Gonzales, Miss Philippines Universe 1994, so far has managed an almost modest reputation up to this very day. Ruffa Gutierrez, Miss Philippines World 1993, on the other hand, has had her share of battles with her demons. From the academy awards scandal to being accused of trips to Brunei to falling out with her own family, this gal has been through them all! Never the less, she has managed to rise up and is today an international star in the making. Huh, proves one thing though: "When you hit rock bottom, there's no way but up!"
May our present day queens and countless 'has beens' continue to be models of good behavior. Beware, beware!!! Ohhh.. Snow White, Snow White, if you must wear white, better stay white!
.............................................................................................
................................................................................Heimlich
Miss Philippines Universe 1994
How Perfida of circa 1988 ever won the title of Miss Philippines
Universe is one of pageant kingdom's great big WHY? How did a girl with no beauty queen qualities at all ever become one?
Rumor has it that she had the necessary connections with one
or some of the judges! Though she seemed to have won fair and square 12 years ago, judging from her phtographs, what beauty queen is there with unkempt hair, oily skin, seems-like-I -did-not-use-soap-this-morning look, a body that is out of shape, thunder thighs, short legs, a chubby face and gawd, are those stretchhh marks, honey?
I have nothing against her personally, I am just being objective. No wonder the other delegates of the Asian mafia did so well that year with Thailand winning and all but one of the runners-up were Asians. Let Perfida of the past remain in the past!
.....Pageant Fan
Miss Philippines Universe 1988
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Miss Philippines World
1999
What ever happened to the beautiful Lalaine Edson? After her disappointing loss at the Miss World Finals
in London, she just simply vanished into thin air. Was she abducted? Did she ran away with her lover? Broke down mentally due to the loss of the Miss world crown? Or simply too embarrassed to come home for fear of being blamed for not placing at all? Come on, Lalaine! Don't be such a sore loser! You gave it your best shot. Life is not all about crowns anyway. Come out of hiding and get on with your life!
................................................................................................................................. ...Heimlich
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MARITESS AND HILDA, NOW
QUEENS ONLY IN OUR DREAMS
Decade 70's two most beautiful faces, Maritess Revilla (left) and Hilda Koronel (right) that could have been perfect candidates for Miss Philippines. Too bad, it never happened! Maritess was then the muse of Camay soap, and Hilda was moviedom's most beautiful face. Both of these women now belong to the
'Regrets Section' of the Miss Philippines Library. If ever they made a shot for it, it could have been gold!
................................................................................................................................. ...Heimlich
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