Maureen Wroblewitz joins fight against breast cancer

MANILA -- Fashion Can Serve returns this year with undeniable elegance. The breast cancer support network, ICanServe Foundation, has chosen Cary Santiago, JC Buendia, Ito Curata, Vania Romoff, Mia Arcenas, and Rosenthal Tee to frontline this year’s edition.

Although the actual show will be held at Raffles Makati hotel on October 8, select members of the press, such as Metro Magazine, got a glimpse of the eagerly anticipated fashion exclusive to go with the campaign for breast cancer awareness.

These six designers, together with their celebrity muses and models, will unveil their unique vision through their Holiday 2017 collection, and deliver their message of support for the ICanServe Foundation’s advocacy. That is, to fight the stigma of breast cancer, strengthen awareness, and promote early detection among Filipino women.

‘Why We Fight’

This year’s theme has been aptly titled, “Why We Fight,” highlighting how women diagnosed with breast cancer stay strong for others around them. 

ICanServe Foundation’s chairwoman Libet Virata shares how the campaign will emphasize this message by selecting muses, which will include a mother and her child, or grandmothers with their grandchildren. Some of this year’s muses include Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran Floirendo, Solenn Heusaff, Katarina Rodriguez, Metrowear Icon WynnWynn Ong, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith, to name a few. 

Coming from her triumph as the first Filipina to win "Asia’s Next Top Model," Maureen Wroblewitz is the face of Fashion Can Serve 2017. 

For Maureen, the cause is something close to her heart, since her mother was once a volunteer for ICanServe until she passed away from her battle with breast cancer. Together with Maureen, survivors and supporters will take part in this year’s fashion show, and inspire Filipina women to keep the good fight against cancer.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Asia's Next Top Model' host defends Maureen Wroblewitz

MANILA – The host of cycle 5 of “Asia’s Next Top Model” took to social media to defend Maureen Wroblewitz, the first model from the Philippines to win the competition.

This as some netizens expressed disappointment over the results, saying Wroblewitz is the shortest and least experienced among the show’s finalists.

In an Instagram post on Thursday, Cindy Bishop explained that “the rules of modeling have changed drastically.”

“We are seeing norms and stereotypes being challenged every day, body positivity being celebrated in all its forms (including height), and an entire new arena of opportunity for models everywhere,” she said.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but let’s please be respectful of each other, of all the judges who took their jobs very seriously and debated together at length to finally come to a decision, and finally of these three amazing ladies who should be extremely proud of what they’ve accomplished both on and off the show,” she added.


In another post on Instagram, Bishop told Wroblewitz: “Congratulations, my darling! You’ve defied all expectations on this competition. Well deserved. Go Philippines! I’m so proud of you!”

Meanwhile, Bishop also congratulated the two other models who made it to the final round of the competition: Malaysia’s Shikin Gomez and Vietnam’s Minh Tu Nguyen.

Addressing Gomez, the host said: “You were such a joy to work with, professional to the utmost and always giving 100%. You have an unstoppable drive to be the best and I can’t wait to see what you will be blowing us away with next. Malaysia is lucky to have you as their queen. Thank you for being you.”

Bishop went on to praise Nguyen, saying: “You really rocked this competition from the very first day and made Vietnam so proud. You were a true friend and big sis to many of the girls and so many people look up to you for that. And the fact that you are now the mentor of your own show is a testament to what a top model and inspiration you already are. Congratulations!”

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Georgina to host 'Asia's Next Top Model'

MANILA - Filipino-British model Georgina Wilson will host the upcoming season of "Asia's Next Top Model," a counterpart of the popular American reality show created and hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks.

Wilson, 28, made the announcement on Instagram on Friday, referring to the stint as a career milestone. "I've been so excited about this announcement and been keeping it for months now! [I'm] extremely honored to be hosting [the show]," she said.

Producer Star World Asia referred to Wilson as a "superstar" in its own announcement on its Facebook page, which got thousands of likes within minutes.



No further details, including the premiere date, were given.

A popular commercial model and a former VJ, Wilson made an appearance in the original "Top Model" show in the United States in 2011, representing Philippine lifestyle brand Bench as a stylist.

According to Wilson, she will host the third cycle of "Asia's Next Top Model."

Its second cycle, hosted by Australian-Indonesian actress Nadya Hutagalung, saw Filipinos Jodilly Pendre and Katarina Rodriguez as runners-up to Malaysia's Sheena Liam early this year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

What's next for Jodilly, Katarina after 'AsNTM'

MANILA – They may not have won the competition but Filipina finalists Jodilly Pendre and Katarina Rodriguez were satisfied with their performance during the second cycle of “Asia’s Next Top Model” (AsNTM).

On the sidelines of the finale episode’s viewing party on Wednesday night, both Rodriguez and Pendre noted that they gained invaluable lessons froms icons of the fashion industry during their time on the Tyra Banks-produced show.

For 21-year-old Rodriguez, what's more important is what happens to them after “AsTM.”

“You could win the competition, there's so many 'America’s Next Top Models' but their names are not like Tyra Banks or Kate Moss. They're known but they didn't make it to the actual supermodel top status. I think that's a big deal, how you handle yourself after the competition,” she said, as she vowed to continue pursuing a career in modelling.

“I invested a lot in the competition. I was crying this last episode because I was so happy that I made them proud. They put a lot of work into me. They could have easily put others in the top 3 and not me. If I don't pursue this, I'll just waste it, a segment of my life where I know I have potential,” she said.

Rodriguez revealed that she has had a hectic schedule since January, usually with four modelling jobs in a day.

Meanwhile, Pendre promised to work hard to make it big internationally.

“Hindi man ako 'yung nanalo, this is my stepping stone towards greatness. Walang makakapigil sa akin. Ina-appreciate ko ang sarili ko… Hindi man ako nanalo pero 'yung mga tao na kailanagn ko sa buhay ko, nasa tabi ko. 'Yun ang winner sa akin. I am a victor because I learned from the experience,” she said.

Pendre, who finished first runner-up, said she respects the judges’ decision, adding that what’s more important is the fact that she learned a lot from the show.

“I trust the judges and I respect them. If they think I don't deserve to win, I will always respect it. The thing is, I learned a lot in the competition. Without it, hindi ako magiging what I am now. Hindi ko matututunan yung different expressions, paano maha-handle 'yung sarili ko na ako lang,” she said.

Despite losing to Malaysia’s Sheena Liam, both Rodriguez and Pendre are thankful for the support, not just from their Filipino fans, but also from viewers in other Asian countries.

As the winner, Liam won a modeling contract with London-based Storm Model Management, among others, as "Asia's Next Top Model."

She also took home a Subaru car, a contract as the 2014 endorser of haircare brand TRESemme, a chance to appear on the covers of Harper's Bazaar Singapore and Malaysia, and SGD 50,000. - with reports from Ginger Conejero, ABS-CBN News

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com