// Pinay Ubermodels Slowly Gaining Momentum //

Back in the good ol’ 80’s it was Anna Bayle, Melanie Marquez and Bessie Badilla who conquered the runways New York, Paris and Milan. After the trio retired from their respective modeling careers there has never been a Filipina since.

Fast forward to 2013, the Pinay models in this brave new world of iPhones and Instagram is slowly gaining momentum back into the international runways.

Recently Pampanga-native Samantha Gomez walked her first Paris fashion week for Agnes B, which is a humble step into the French market. Of course who could not forget Charo Ronquillo’s 2nd runner-up win in 2006 for Ford’s Supermodel of the World. As they say the rest is history for Charo as she walked for Lela Rose, Lacoste, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Tory Burch and graced editorials of Glamour, Teen Vogue, Elle to name a few. For now Charo is testing the Parisian waters as she tried doing couture shows for a season under Angels & Demons agency.

Then a surprise 1st runner-up win back in 2010 for Charlene Almarvez who made waves in her first New York fashion week when she booked 13 shows that includes Lacoste, Peter Som, Diane Von Furstenberg, Rad by Rad Hourani, Nanette Lepore, Sophie Theallet and Suno. Her stint could’ve catapulted into a Top Newcomer if it weren’t for visa problems as she was included in London, Paris and Milan showcards list. Today under her belt boasts agencies in New York, London and Paris and just recently shot an editorial with the legendary fashion lensman Bruce Weber !

Danica Magpantay on the other hand won the title of Ford’s Supermodel of the World 2011 where she featured in walking for Bensoni, Nanette Lepore, Douglas Hannant and rising Indian designer Bibhu Mohupatra. She is back in the Big Apple after a stint with Ford’s counterpart agency in Singapore that helped hone her runway walk. From the looks of her updated portfolio and polaroids (fresh with a ponytail!) in the Ford site, the agency is definitely not letting this ingenue out of their prying eyes. 

Bubbling up on the international scene are two of the Philippine’s most wanted models, the exotic Manuela Basilio and intelligent It-Girl Pauline Prieto. They were scouted to agencies in New York, Pauline the later just arrived this week and in no time will fly again to NYC. I fervently prayed that lady luck had them signed on to their respective agencies already as the two keep mum on it on their twitter accounts. 

These new breed of Pinay models have been blessed with great modeling genes and X-factor fierceness that after the Brazilians, Victoria’s Secret girls & Chinese, a Pinay tsunami perhaps is indeed inevitable?

- Ronquillo - Almarvez - Magpantay - Gomez - Prieto - Basilio -