What's your most memorable modeling experience?

Most teenagers dream of becoming models. It’s nice seeing models on the ramp, print and on TV and wondering how they can look so good and perfect!

Read on as some members and former members of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP), an organization of models run by models themselves that is currently celebrating its 25th year anniversary, share with us their most memorable modeling experience.

Luke Jickain

Well, there were some great moments, there were a lot of failed moments and there were moments on the stage when I realized that I had to pee. It is very hard to walk when you have to go. Whatever moment it may be, I always see the industry like my mom did. For whatever it is, I’ll always be grateful.

Marco Lobregat

One of my most memorable modeling experiences was the opening for the collaboration of Jun Jun Ablaza and Michelle Sison which was held a few seasons back for Philippine Fashion Week. It was exhilarating as the show called for some drama and the designs were avant-garde and sexy. I walked out with big colorful wings and had to make it look sexy.

Valerie Delos Santos

A few years ago, I was with a group of models sent to Moscow, Russia by the  Department of Tourism for a fashion show promoting Philippine couture. It was wintertime and we were also doing a fashion pictorial outdoors in evening gowns amid the oh-so-cold air at the Red Square. As the photographer started clicking, a policeman approached us and said we did not have the proper permit — even as our Philippine Embassy guide had secured the necessary papers. We charmed our way out of the “arresting” situation and our guide paid a couple of hundred dollars as penalty. But our enterprising photographer — a European national — had a job to do, so he insisted we drive to a less public place to continue our pictorial. So we posed, quivering not because of the winter cold, but at the more chilling thought that the policeman might catch us again.

Sanya  Smith

I was doing a show for Rajo Laurel, which was directed by Robby Carmona. This was my first real gig in the industry. Nervous as ever, I had no idea what I was doing — so I just did what I was told, taking everything in with a grain of salt, learning as I went along.

Hair and makeup time, Rajo comes up to me and says, “Okay, Sanya, I’m gonna paint your face blue for this segment, are you ok with that?”

“Yeah sure go for it!” I really like the idea. I was supposed to be a cyborg creature or something.

In the end, by the time everyone was done with hair and makeup, I realized — “OMG I’m the only one with a blue face!!”

I really didn’t mind. What makes this so memorable was when I tried to wipe it off, some of the pigment stained my skin. So I looked like a corpse for the next two days. hahaha!

Phoemela Baranda

Slipping, tripping or wardrobe malfunction is a normal thing on the ramp. But the most embarrassing thing that happened to me was when I showed up for the Inno Sotto show at Metropolitan Museum a day before the show! Called my fellow model Grace Molina and she just totally laughed at me.

Patty Betita

It was when I bested over 80 models to be the endorser of Vidal Sassoon shampoo in 1996. I did the TVC with another half-Brit, half-Pinay model in London for a week. I met Vidal Sassoon himself. We shot on three different locations. At the Vidal Sassoon Academy, Victoria Train Station and our last Day at the Covent Garden. I had fun there. Everyone was professional and we finished at exactly 6 p.m. every day. We were free to go shopping and have dinner after the shoots. The TVC was released in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines, of course. The pay was also very, very good.

Ana Sideco

The most memorable modeling experience I had was when I modeled in New York. I got to experience firsthand how the international scene works. It was also the time that I felt being a model was a legitimate and professional job since people there consider the modeling industry as a 9-to-5 job with overtime pay to boot; it was definitely worth the experience.

Mikaela Lagdameo Martinez

Most memorable modeling experience was actually flying to Hong Kong to shoot a regional ad for Ponds — it was one of the biggest projects I’ve had... and on that same trip, I auditioned for another project and got the job as well. So I ended up extending the entire week — shooting two campaigns in one trip!

Marilen Faustino Montenegro

My most memorable modeling experience was when I did a campaign for Ponds over a decade ago. It took three days to shoot the TVC and I got to work with Neal Oshima, a very well-known photographer, for the print ads. The campaign lasted for a couple of years so it really challenged me to be a role model for other women. 

Annette Coronel

My most memorable modeling experience was when I did the Gucci show with Kate Moss with a 38-degree fever. As they say, the show must go on.

Raph Kiefer

I’ve had a long modeling career, which makes it difficult to pick one favorite moment although I would probably have to go with my big break which was the Best Model in the World Competition in 2003. I won that and got to represent the Philippines in Turkey. I had very little experience at that point, which made the experience a baptism of fire. I had the time of my life though.