After winning the fifth season of Asia’s Next Top Model, Maureen Wroblewitz continues to stun the international modeling scene with her fierce looks. Starting out as a quiet girl at school in her early years, she strived to work on her social skills and boost her self-confidence. Starting a new life in the Philippines and competing at AsNTM allowed her to come out of her shell and discover who she is. Since her victory at the competition, she’s become the face of international brands like Aquafina and Palmolive, as well as home-grown fashion label ForMe. With endorsements, commercials, and, most recently, a hosting stint in a local variety show, it’s only a matter of time before she becomes a household name. Now taking the world by storm, the sought-after model is pursuing to make her mark on the industry–poised to attain tremendous accomplishments and live her life on the spotlight.
How do you redefine being a girl or woman in this day and age?
“Today, I would say that girls and women are brave and strong. Up until now we’re still fighting for our rights and for equality. Comparing it to before, we’ve come a long way, but we’re still not quite there. We always come across people who are old-fashion or old school and they tell you, ‘Women are supposed to act this way. You’re not supposed to do this because you’re a woman.’ Or you’ll come across men or even women who tell you, ‘No, women should be at home, take care of the children, and should do this and do that.’ And you really have to stand up for yourself. You’ll always have that, maybe family member who will be saying that. It happened to me. I would come home late, and then my tita would be like, ‘You’re acting like a boy!’ I’m like, ‘What’s wrong with that?’ Because comparing here in the Philippines and Germany, it’s different. And in other countries, it’s different.”
What is your experience in breaking through your own walls to come out strong and be one-of-a-kind in your field?
“It’s really long because it goes way back. Growing up, I was extremely shy. I would also have social anxiety. I would not want to talk to anyone, but I knew that I didn’t wanna stay this way. So step by step, I did different things. I worked as a waitress to know how to talk to people, so I can get over the social anxiety. Then after I finished high school, that’s when I moved to the Philippines. That was also a big step for me, so it was really all about getting out of my comfort zone. Then after I moved to the Philippines, that’s when I went to Asia’s Next Top Model. That was an even bigger step because knowing me, you’d never think that I would do a reality show or be on TV because I was that shy. The people in Germany, where I used to live before, they’d ask me, ‘Who is this? Who are you?’ because I was that shy. So many things happened at Asia’s Next Top Model, and then I won Asia’s Next Top Model, then after was just the next step because Asia’s Next Top Model was the beginning of my career. I did interviews. I did appearances. I would be thinking of them before, when I was still dreaming, and I would be like, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t do an interview because I don’t know how to talk. I don’t know if I’ll be able to think. I don’t know this, because I’m like an over-thinker. So I was thinking of a lot of things. And then after Asia’s Next Top Model, I have now Eat Bulaga where I’m hosting. I never thought I’d be hosting. I never thought I’d be hosting in Tagalog because I’m not fluent in it. I’m still learning, so it’s another step. And I keep on getting out of my comfort zone, but I feel like that’s important because you get to grow as a person and in your career.”
How did this help you reach where you are now?
“If I wouldn’t have gone out of my comfort zone, I would definitely not be where I am right now. I wouldn’t be hosting. I wouldn’t be a model. I wouldn’t have this career.”
In your own words, what makes you bold and unafraid to go beyond your limits?
“Well, for me, it’s really the motivation of growth. I really wanna grow more as a person and professionally. For me, it’s like if I’m comfortable in where I am, it’s wrong. I like challenging myself. I like trying out new things ‘cause I just really wanna keep on growing.”
What tips do you have to empower women to break through their own personal hindrances and seek out greatness?
“Well I can say that you really have to start from you. Only you can make a difference. You have to really believe in yourself, that’s what I learned. I really have to believe in myself and tell myself, ‘I can do this!’ So do that as well. And there will be people who are gonna be negative. There are gonna be people who will tell you, ‘Don’t do this! Just do this, do that, do something else.’ But you have to overcome that. You have to really stick to what you believe, and do what you wanna do—not what other people want you to do.”
This 2019, I’d like to see more girls _________________
“I would like to see more girls be brave and fulfill their dreams!”
Makeup by Bobbi Brown
