MEGA talks to Ian Mendajar about training Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach to be runway-ready for her Paris Fashion Week runway debut
Modeling is a glamorous profession—the perfect blend of art and style. Although many people don’t consider hard work, discipline, and training to be part of the mix, modeling, runway walking in particular, is not just about strutting in high heels or sporting the latest fashion trends. It’s an art form that calls for grace, confidence, and skill—virtues that Miss Universe 2015 and now fashion social content creator Pia Wurtzbach has been mastering as she walks through the paths of modeling and pageantry in her life. But who ever said that learning stops when is wearing the crown and walking down the runway?
Ian Mendajar, renowned pageant and runway coach, made the art of walking—pasarela—his profession. In runway striding, it’s more than just physical personal presentation, and more than just simply posing in front of a photographer. Elegance, poise, and charisma—qualities required of a model—don’t come naturally to many people. And these traits aren’t just requisites for a model’s career, but they are also crucial to pageant contestants and other occupations that require a convincing, captivating personality. That said, sashaying down the runway, facing bright lights, flashing cameras, and an audience filled with designers, celebrities, fashion industry peers, and the press may look easy, but first, one must master ‘the walk.’
RELATED: Pia Wurtzbach Makes Her Runway Debut at Paris Fashion Week
From Pageant Fan to Pasarela and Runway Coach
Miss World Philippines 2024 Krishnah Gravidez, Miss Cosmo Philippines 2024 Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee, and now Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach—these names all have Ian Mendajar to thank for their signature pasarelas. But Mendajar wasn’t always the person behind the scenes making the runway magic happen. He was first a passionate pageant fan, of Pia Wurtzbach in particular, then he transformed his love for pageantry by designing dolls in her honor. This caught Wurtzbach’s attention, and opened doors for Mendajar to network in the pageant industry.
During a birthday party with a beauty pageant theme, Mendajar discovered his talent for walking and it was suggested to him that he consider teaching walking to future beauty queens. The now runway coach tells MEGA, “At that time, I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll give it a try.’ Then just a few weeks later, beauty queens started reaching out to ask for help with their pageant walk. And that’s how it all began.”
Mendajar emphasizes that pageantry is not just work—it’s a “part of my life.” He was a Typhoon Yolanda survivor who faced mental health challenges: “By the time Pia Wurtzbach competed in Miss Universe in 2015, I was still navigating my recovery,” Mendajar shares with MEGA. “The pageant community played a significant role in helping me fully heal and move forward after the typhoon. Pageantry is something I’m truly passionate about, and it’s the very reason I choose to be here.”
Having overcome turbulent beginnings, Mendajar never expected to one day train Miss Universe 2015 for the runway. She was, after all, the queen of the pageant stage already. Though they’ve collaborated already two years ago in a five-hour session, where he trained Wurtzbach, Binibining Pilipinas International 2014 Bianca Guidotti, and Mutya ng Pilipinas Intercontinental 2010 Carla Lizardo, training the queen now has the same level of excitement as two years ago.
Pageant vs Runway Walk
Although Mendajar’s strong suit forte is pageantry, he had the guidance of Patty Betita, former Binibining Pilipinas International 1991 and one of the advisors of The Crown Initiatives, to teach him the nuances between pageant and runway walking. “In runways, the focus is on showcasing the clothes, shoes, or accessories you’re modeling,” the coach reveals.
“At fashion shows, its about ‘selling’ the piece you’re wearing and letting the design take center stage. In pageants, the walk is all about projecting your personality. In those few seconds on stage, you must convey to the judges or the company that you embody what they are looking for.”
– Ian Mendajar
However, Mendajar places a high value on getting to know his students first before adapting his teaching style to suit the occasion. “Understanding who they are is essential for both pageant and runway training,” he shares. “In a pageant, it’s a collaborative process where the beauty queen and I work together to highlight her individuality. It can take one to two weeks of preparation to truly align her personality with her stage presence.”
From the Miss Universe Stage to the Paris Fashion Week Runway
The Samar native hones a walk that exudes power, awareness, and sharp focus; he does this by undertaking a collaborative approach between himself and his student. In the case of Pia Wurtzbach’s first Paris Fashion Week show, the runway coach reveals that the queen made it clear she wanted to showcase her personality, but that she also felt “rusty” when it came to her walk—both for runway and pageant. “So we worked together to refine her strides and her arm movements while still letting her individuality shine,” Mendajar declares, describing his training with Pia as “inspiring and nakakakilig. She’s the same Pia since 2013: down to earth, thoughtful, and kalog during training.”
A regular training session with Mendajar begins with warm-ups, then focuses on footwork, legwork, hips, and arm movement. He shares, “The key is ensuring her whole body was in sync so that her walk felt natural and comfortable.”
Perfecting the model strut requires practice, but with the right strides, anyone can make an enduring mark on the catwalk. So for maximum impact, the coach focused on adjusting the queen’s strides. “In the past, Wurtzbach tended to focus on long strides, sometimes even overcompensating, which affected her overall performance. We were able to bring out her individuality throughout her walk by regulating her steps and making them feel more organic and natural,” Mendajar explains.
But that’s just one ingredient to a successful runway walk. When it comes to making a lasting impression, the coach asserts that personality, facial expression, and attitude play a crucial role. These components combine to form the essence of who you are when on the runway and shape how others perceive you. Adding style to the mix is an excellent way to take things up a notch and make your mark on the catwalk.
“When you walk on stage, the audience should be able to see your inner strength and beauty. In Pia’s case, her signature is being ‘confidently beautiful with a heart,’” Mendajar explains, circling back to the beauty queen’s iconic winning answer on the Miss Universe stage. “I told her that she should showcase that at Paris Fashion Week. It’s about Pia owning the runway with the statement: I’m Pia Wurtzbach, this is Paris Fashion Week, and I’m confidently beautiful with a heart.”
The Training Aftermath
Wurtzbach made her fashion runway debut at the L’oreal’s Le Défilé Walk Your Worth show earlier this morning. According to Mendajar, he feels blessed and excited to have been part of the queen’s preparation for this milestone in her career. “It’s an experience I’ll never forget—plus, I was one of the first few people to know that she was walking at Paris Fashion Week so sobrang kilig. As her fan, I am also very grateful for her support; I know that this is the very reason why the universe is so good to her and she deserves this so much.”
After watching Wurtzbach walk this morning, Mendajar tells MEGA he feels very proud of his student. “Parang Miss Universe 2015 crowning moment again,” he describes. On Instagram, he said, “To be part of your Paris Fashion Week journey is both an honor and responsibility. Thank you for your trust, and congratulations, Queen P! Always proud of you.”
