Iza: A beauty queen in her own right

MANILA, Philippines - Iza Calzado has always hemmed and hawed about showing more flesh on screen. The Kapuso star is queasy about weight matters, since she admits having fought the battle of the bulge since she was a gawky teenager.

Until lo and behold! She agreed to wear a bikini, not just for the video teaser of her new primetime drama, Beauty Queen (which premieres today), but for a billboard that greets motorists along EDSA and Quezon Avenue 24/7.

“It’s big deal for me. I’m still apprehensive,” Iza admits. But she knows it’s a job she has to do and she’s only playing a role, a market vendor who becomes a beauty queen.

So Iza took a deep breath, held her head high, and stepped out in a fuchsia bikini.

She promises herself this is the first and last time the public will see her in a two piece.

Iza didn’t work hard on those curves for the show alone. Her driving force came from deep within her. She wanted to prove something to herself.

Iza Calzado sitting pretty as a beauty queen with co-stars (from left) Maggie Wilson, Gloria Diaz and Katrina Halili. — Photos by VER PAULINO

“I’ve been working so hard for the last two years to achieve what I have now. I’ve been running like crazy. I work out every chance I get. I did it to achieve a physique I will be happy and proud of,” she explains.

At least, Iza adds, she can say that she did something to improve herself. And that the result is a far cry from what she used to be.

Is the cover of a sexy men’s magazine like FHM or Maxim up next? Will she endorse ladies’ underwear next?

Iza balks.

“I’m not yet sure about the magazine cover. But endorsing ladies’ undies? Never mind!”

Her boyfriend, Atticus King, is more laidback with his reaction to the billboard.

“That’s good!” is all he had to say.

Now, her businessman-boyfriend doesn’t have to miss his busy girlfriend that much anymore. All he need do is drive up to EDSA, look up and see the Beauty Queen billboard while Iza is busy dancing on GMA 7’s Party Pilipinas and hosting The Sweet Life.

…(from left) Marvin Agustin, Luis Alandy and TJ Trinidad…

Iza is too swamped with work — and blessings. She has no time to stress herself out by pushing through with her plan of selling her elegant house in Acropolis, Quezon City.

Besides, Iza noticed that the real estate industry is booming and the value of the house she renovated after buying it from Rufa Mae Quinto has gone up, up, up. So Iza would rather enjoy the house she worked hard for and share it with her family.

Too bad her mom is not around anymore to enjoy Iza’s blessings.

“She wanted to be a beauty queen but she stood only 5’1”,” Iza recalls. Iza’s mom wanted her to join a beauty pageant. Iza did toy around with the idea when she was in grade school. But she forgot all about it when she ballooned to 200-plus pounds as a teenager.

It’s enough for Iza that for now, she’s fulfilling her mom’s dream for her to be a beauty queen through the series.

“It’s amazing,” Iza gushes. “I get this chance to play a character my mom hope she’d be one day.”

She may not be the type who drops everything just to watch a beauty pageant. But that doesn’t mean Iza is clueless about beauty queen standouts.

“Venus Raj is my favorite. Natutuwa ako sa kanya,” Iza says. Also on her list are Miss Universe title holders Gloria Diaz (who plays a beauty pageant chair in the series) and Margie Moran-Floirendo.

“They represented the country very well,” explains Iza. ‘Sagot pa lang nila, game over na.”

She’s excited about learning the secrets of being a beauty queen from Gloria and co-star Maggie Wilson, former Bb. Pilipinas-World on the set.

“I feel the pressure since the series is on primetime,” Iza admits. But she knows things are falling into place.

“Life is a series of ups and downs,” she muses. “You just have to ride the waves.”

No doubt about it. Iza is now at the crest.