Yaofa dela Cruz
MANILA, Philippines — In the eyes of model Yaofa dela Cruz, one can see a depth of love for life that, perhaps, gives her the ability to embrace the present wholeheartedly.
In the usually intense and hectic world of fashion, Yaofa’s gentle soul brings bliss that allows her to appreciate the world. With her calm demeanor, she is able to observe and listen to the wonders of life.
At 19, Yaofa has walked some of the most-coveted runways in Manila and has been featured in several fashion campaigns. But before she discovered the beauty of modeling, this 5’10”-stunner says she experienced some form of bullying when she was younger because of her height.
“Whenever I would go out back then, some people would make fun of my height. I would feel hurt when they do that. But I learned not to get too affected with the negative things people say about me. My mom (Mayenne) tells me to just ignore negativity and do my best in everything,” says Yaofa, who is of Pakistani and Filipino descent.
For Yaofa, everyday struggles and difficulties are inevitable but maintaining a positive outlook is key for one to be able to pull through and move on in life.
A graduating Travel Management student from Fatima University, Yaofa looks forward to seeing the world to broaden her understanding and her knowledge of her surroundings. “One of my dreams is to become a cabin crewmember for a major airline. I dream about traveling the world and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds and hopefully to learn from them,” she shares.
Yaofa, whose name means “nice and pretty” in Hebrew, says she has grown to love the world of fashion. “I started modeling out of curiosity. But by being able to experience how it is to be a model, what I do right now has become my passion. I learned that in this industry, you have to be hardworking and passionate with what you do. The most important thing is to enjoy the experience.”
When she is in a fashion show or a photo shoot, the shy and soft-spoken Yaofa disappears and transforms into an almost alter ego with an edgy and fierce appeal. With this, Yaofa has aced go-sees that have opened opportunities for her to walk for designers like John Herrera, Mark Bumgarner, Puey Quiñones and Amir Sali.
“Before walking the runway or facing the camera, I tell myself to be confident and just enjoy the show,” she says. “One of the fashion shows I enjoyed was during Fashion Week when I walked for Amir Sali. It was one fun show and his designs were inspiring,” shares Yaofa, who was one of the contestants for the digital reality show SM Youth Go-See Season 2.
“Joining the SM Youth Go-See was one of the most memorable for me because I was able to meet new friends and experience how it is to be in a competition.”
Yaofa, armed with determination and optimism, continues to embark on a journey to conquer her dreams and make them her reality. “I am thankful to my mom and my family who support me. And I am thankful to God for blessing me with the opportunity to model and meet amazing people through this experience,” she concludes.
Photography by Mau Aguasin • Creative direction and styling by Luis Espiritu Jr. • Makeup by Baba Parma • Hairstyling by Ronnie Tumamak • Clothes by Weave (2/F Uptown Mall, Uptown Bonifacio, Taguig City. Visit www.weave.com.ph.) • Shot on location at New World Manila Bay Hotel (1588 Pedro Gil corner MH Del Pilar Streets, Malate, Manila. Tel. No. 252-6888.) • Special thanks to the management and staff of New World Manila Bay Hotel and Mercator
