TV5 on the lookout for Philippines’ Next Top Model

MANILA, Philippines - Philippines’ Next Top Model: High Street is a battle of fresh faces and first-timers. This is what host Maggie Wilson and two of the judges promise viewers of the TV5-produced local version of America’s Next Top Model (ANTM).

Maggie together with Rain Dagala (Meg Magazine editor-in-chief) and Raf Kiefer (Professional Models Association of the Philippines president), recently visited The STAR to talk about Philippines’ Next Top Model, which airs Tuesday nights at 8:10. The reality TV show made its debut last week.

Maggie, who’s no stranger to pressure-filled competitions having won Amazing Race Asia Season 5 and once crowned Bb. Pilipinas World, said the show held screenings in Davao, Cebu, Baguio and Metro Manila to find 24 worthy contenders. Most are modeling newbies, no modeling contract or experience whatsoever. Some of them are so “inexperienced” that it was even their first time to use high heels during the auditions.

This is what makes Maggie and company extra excited over the show, the predecessor of which (the one hosted by Ruffa Gutierrez) already aired a decade ago.

“The mere fact that most of our contestants are younger, the dynamics of (this new) show is different. It feels young, it looks young. It’s modern,” said Rain.

They also take pride in the “quality” roster of contestants. “We’re having a great variety of girls. All types of skin tone and looks; it’s gonna be very, very diverse. Filipinas in all shapes and sizes. That’s really what makes me excited in doing the show. They have different looks. And they speak well. Quality girls. They have great (background) stories. They’re all smart,” said Maggie.

“Emphasis on smart,” mused Rain, “wala kaming contestant na bobo.”

Meaning to say, there’s more to being a model than just having good looks or catwalk skills.

“Models nowadays, they’re not only models,” said Maggie. “They’re a brand. They know how to manipulate social media. They know how to talk to people. Because social media is now so big, (they) have to be a role model… The show is going to be aspirational. I want girls, who watch the show, to say, ‘I wanna be like her, I wanna be like that contestant.’”

For Rain, Philippines’ Next Top Model has to send the message that to be a top model requires hard work and commitment. “Nowadays, ang daling maging model. Mag-post ka lang sa Instagram model ka na bigla. But for me, as an editor, gusto ko bigyan ng very distinct approach that to be a model it takes hard work. I want to emphasize those values again: It takes hard work and knowledge also; and you can’t just pose there without any plan (or goal). All those stuff, we made sure, are emphasized well in the show.”

He continued on what, for him, defines a winner: “The kind of girl I’m looking for (is) someone who can stand up and say to the younger generation that I went through all the dirty work to become who I am today. That process is usually skipped by the young ones now.”

Relatability and drive, on the other hand, are the winning attributes for Maggie. “I want a girl who’s hungry for that title… who can represent the Philippines not only locally but globally. I’m looking for a girl who we can throw in a runway show, TVC, editorial — she will be good across the board. I’m looking for a girl with personality in the sense that she is her own person, she knows who she is and is not afraid to be who she is because sometimes, in the modeling industry, (you get told) you need to be like this or like that.”

“I’m after the whole package,” said Raf, who doesn’t only model, but also runs a textile business, organizes festivals and occasionally writes for publications, according to his PMAP profile. “I’m looking for someone who can leave an impression. Like there were so many beautiful faces… a lot of girls who auditioned. But I’ll go for someone who I can actually remember like when I see her picture, I’m gonna say, ‘Yes, I remember this girl, she has potential, she will go far.’ She has the X-factor.”

A model for more than 10 years now and who was named Best Model of the World-Philippines in 2006, Raf has enjoyed the front seat to the trends and changes happening in the industry. “Actually, ngayon nagbago talaga ang industry. I think the last few years, it’s been a lot about international models. Parang maraming fly-in like Brazilians, Western Europeans... but it’s changing now. Locals are being looked up to because there are local models who are starting to make it in New York, Milan, Paris and London.

“So, we’re now trying to support our own and with the current government saying, ‘Let’s be Filipino, let’s be nationalistic,’ I think that’s the trend right now. And it’s a good trend because maganda naman talaga ang mga Filipina. It’s time to build up our local models and send them abroad.”

Meanwhile, Maggie said that hosting Philippines’ Next Top Model (ergo, counterpart to ANTM’s Tyra Banks) is “right up my alley,” what with her experience in coaching beauty queens like her Amazing Race Asia partner Parul Shah.

“I didn’t have to audition for it. (TV5 boss Chot Reyes) essentially asked me if I’d like to do the job. Of course, I said yes!” said Maggie, who described herself as a host who dispenses tough love.

Rain, on the other hand, readily admitted that he’s the strict one among the judges that also include 2016 Miss International Kylie Verzosa. “(I’m) ready for the haters, I don’t care,” he laughed. “This is a job given to me and I think I should do it well.”

As for Raf, expect him to be his “professional” self. “I’ll keep my cool. I’ll try to be very objective and avoid being emotional about the situation. I will try to be an educator for the girls.”