Wanna Be on Top? Meet the Next Top Models of the Philippines

Wanna Be on Top? Meet the Next Top Models of the Philippines

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All hail 15 of the freshest, most in demand faces of today—the models of the moment

This is from MEGA’s November 2023 Fashion Feature

ASIANA DOESNT, 20

Asiana Doesnt knows she is a legacy, with her mother being one of the country’s top models in the ’90s. Her eyes are set on becoming a great lawyer, but she’s also cementing her own name in fashion, thriving on the very same “they-need-me” mindset her mother had back then

CATH BAUTISTA, 22

The kind of diversity, confidence, and beauty found in magazines made Cath Bautista feel empowered as a teenager. Now that she’s a model, she becomes more inspired by the ideologies of the creatives she meets in fashion

TAKI SHIMADA, 29

In the case of Taki Shimada, modeling was something she didn’t plan on doing as a career—she just joined a model search and ended up as one of the winners. For her, modeling and fashion should be seen not just as businesses but also as forms of art

SAMMIE AMBOY, 21

Modeling paved the way for Sammie Amboy to embrace her trans identity and be comfortable in her own skin. As she courses through the industry, she gets to know herself more and her potential to be the great model she has always dreamed of

LEILA IBAÑEZ, 24

At 15, Leila Ibañez was already working as a part-time model. To her, it was like branching out from her small world. Modeling always pushes her to try new things and elevate her style

TRACEY DELA CRUZ, 24

Modeling changed the way Tracey Dela Cruz views beauty. Regardless of gender, skin, and age, she believes that one can make it out there through heart, aura, and confidence

ROSA COOK, 18

After being scouted as a model while living in Hong Kong, Rosa Cook has been passionate about the craft and is looking to pursue it as a lifelong career. Modeling also allowed her to connect deeply with her culture and the Filipino heritage, shaping her style and self-expression

ALAYNE UMALI, 22

Alayne Umali just started modeling six months ago. As an interior design graduate, she has always celebrated art as a spectator. Now, fashion is her new language and she sees it as an extension of her identity

LISETTE BENDICION, 28

Now a full-time dentist practicing in Manila, Lisette Bendicion feels indebted to modeling as it helped her pay for college and boost her confidence. Her memorable fashion moment? An editorial she did for MEGA, which she described as a shoot where she danced through with good energy

SOPHIA AGUADO, 26

Fashion is subjective, and for Sophia Aguado it’s an influential art. With the different versions of herself that she gets to bring out, both her style and perspective of fashion have evolved through the years

ICA DY, 24

Balancing modeling alongside her studies, scholarship responsibilities, and culinary work makes Ica Dy value the industry she is in even more. A modeling trick she swears by? Being truly conscious of the narrative one is portraying

KEN TIANGCO, 23

It was Ken Tiangco’s mom who encouraged her to pursue her dreams to be a model. She even got the opportunity to attend Coco Rocha’s modeling camp in New York in 2022. Since she believes that modeling is an art form, she also sees models are artists themselves

RAEJELL ROXAS, 25

From being shy in front of the camera to embracing it as an outlet for self-expression, Raejell Roxas learned that modeling is her new way to communicate her personality, interests, and style

ANGELINA HARTSHORNE, 19

What inspired Angelina Hartshorne to be a model is the era of Victoria’s Secret fashion shows. More than just the clothes, modeling taught her to appreciate the designers themselves and the stories they tell

THUTHIPORN MACREADY, 19

Zero regrets—this is how Tuthiporn Macready feels since trying out modeling two years ago. With so much room to play around fashion, she believes there’s no right or wrong style. A modeling advice she swears by? Simply be nice to the people you’re working with


Get to know these rising models in MEGA’s November 2023 issue, now available on ReadlyMagzter, Press Reader and Zinio.

Creative Direction JONES PALTENG
Fashion Direction KAT CRUZ-VILLANUEVA and RYUJI SHIOMITSU
Beauty Direction MIA CASTRO
Photography DOC MARLON
Hair and Makeup XENG ZULUETA
Styling RYUJI SHIOMITSU, assisted by BEA GUERRERO, MIGUEL QUILANG, and KURT ABONAL of NEW COLLECTIVE STYLE
Sittings Editor BAM ABELLON
Fashion Associate BITHIA REYES
Editorial Assistant SAM ESTANIEL
Shot on location STUDIO SIMULA

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