"Why," asked Katrina who beat such other desirables as Angel Locsin (2005’s No. 1), "mayroon bang nagseselos, nai-insecure? They have no reason to be."
Discovered by GMA 7’s reality-TV talent search StarStruck (batch 1, together with Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras, the top winners) three years ago, Katrina is proving her mettle as a kontrabida, first revealed in the GMA shows Forever in My Heart, Darna and Majika.
"I’m more comfortable playing a kontrabida," admitted Katrina who has been tagged a maldita (bad girl) and a boyfriend-grabber in real life by her detractors. "But I also like to play a ‘good girl’ every now and then."
Such as in the new GMA fantaserye Atlantika where she plays Helena, one of the four princesses (the others being Iza Calzado, Isabel Oli and Valerie Concepcion) around whom the plot of the sea-based story revolves. Lead star Dingdong Dantes as Aquano is looking for two princesses, who could be any of the four.
In Super Noypi, one of Regal Films’ five 2006 Metro Filmfest entries, Katrina plays a "futuristic" character (similar to the ladies employed by X-Men). Actually, her launching movie, also by Regal, is Gigil, a romantic-comedy taking time on the launching pad.
What does it take to be FHM’s No. 1 Sexiest?
"Starvation diet. He, he, he!"
Meaning you refused to eat?
"In a way."
It’s a good thing you didn’t become anorexic. A few showbiz girls are suspected to be so.
(Knocking on wood) "Thank God!"
So what reducing regimen did you follow?
"I did the FHM mag pictorial earlier this year and also for the FHM 2006 calendar. But I started losing weight only a few weeks before I was launched during the FHM show. I was weighing 112 lbs. (she stands 5’4") and I didn’t want people to say, ‘Ay, ang taba ng No. 1 FHM Girl!’ Ayokong lait-laitin ng mga tao. I weighed 103 lbs. during the show. (Her vital statistics are 34-25-35).
How did you survive without eating?
"I also ate, but not too much... not much solid food. I took mostly soup. And fruits."
What’s your favorite fruit?
"Grapes."
How much liquid do you take?
"Now, a lot. Before, very little. They told me that water is good for the skin, so I try to drink more and more."
Do you apply anything on your skin?
"Only moisturizer."
You have a delicious-brown complexion.
"It’s natural. I have sensitive skin. I easily get a tan when I’m under the sun."
Did you work out?
"No, I did not. But when I had free time, I went to Dr. Vicki Belo’s clinic and got the ‘rock’ and other treatments. For skin-toning. Luckily, I can lose weight fast, mga one week lang."
But did you take vitamins and other supplements?
"Only vitamin C."
What do you do when you get hungry?
"More soup."
Are you happy with your body now?
"Some more improvements."
What part of your body needs some improvements?
"My butt. I’m happy with it but some people say it’s not firm enough."
What part of your body is your favorite?
"My legs. I’m long-legged. And my shoulders. They are broad."
And what part of your body is most vulnerable?
"My whole body, especially my head. And my stomach, kasi nga nagda-diet ako, eh."
What part of a guy’s body do you notice first?
"The whole body. Dapat slim. No love handles. Then, I look at the eyes. And the smile."
What else turns you on?
"If a guy has beautiful eyes and a nice smile, he must be well-mannered. Magalang di lang sa akin kundi sa lahat ng tao."
What turns you off?
"Braggarts. Talkative. ‘Yung tsismoso."
How’s your love life?
"Zero. Busy sa work. I don’t even have a boyfriend."
By choice?
"Not really. Walang nanliligaw. He, he, he!"
Being busy with work, how much sleep do you get per night?
"Enough. If I lack sleep, I make up for it by taking naps on the set. I can sleep easily. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m asleep. Like today, the shoot was packed up, so I did nothing but sleep."
What’s your favorite sleeping wear?
"Loose T-shirt or sando and shorts."
Do you wear perfume to bed?
"No, I don’t. I’m not fond of perfumes. I use Angel’s Breath, ‘yung pambata."
What’s the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
"I wash my face and brush my teeth. Then, I apply a toner."
And the first thing that you do when you wake up?
"The same. I wash my face and brush my teeth. Then, I apply a toner."
How do you unwind?
"I go to Dr. Vicki Belo’s clinic. Nagpapa-scrub. I also get hair treatment because my hair gets very dry from too much exposure to sea water (during the shoot of Atlantika)."
How do you cope with stress?
"I listen to music. My favorite songs are Stars Are Blind and You Don’t See Me."
What’s your favorite hideaway?
"My room. When I want to relax, I invite my friends to my pad and we chat over coffee."
Aren’t you the gimikera type?
"No, I’m not."
Are you vain like most sexy women?
"Not too vain."
How long does it take you to fix yourself?
"If I have nowhere to go, I take my time. If I have to go to work, I hurry up. I like to linger in the shower if there’s time."
Name three guys you think have nice bodies.
"Piolo Pascual. Dingdong Dantes. Richard Gutierrez."
And three women...
"Angel Locsin. Iza Calzado. Isabel Oli."
Using only body language, how would you make a guy know that you admire him?
"I simply look at him. But I look away when he looks back."
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)