Aga on reunion movie with Lea: 'We owe it to the public'
Daughter of former beauty queen Melanie Marquez and businessman Frederick Dee, Michelle Dee is gearing up for a bigger future as a fashion and commercial model.
She began to get noticed early this year when a local clothing brand booked her for a major campaign. Since then, Michelle has been busy with shoots for glossy magazines and runway shows.
“It’s what I enjoy the most,” Michelle said about making a career out of modelling starting now, even when she’s still completing her studies at the De La Salle University.
Will she follow the lead of her mother who turned to modelling and acting after her reign as beauty queen?
She said, “I was asked this question earlier, if I was choose between the three— modelling, acting, or the pageant. I think, it’s modelling kasi I can express myself a lot more and the connection I have with the photographers, and the kind of shoots, it’s just the kind that I enjoy the most.”
And she’s looking beyond the glitz and glamor, saying, “the physical demand, of course, like there was a
time na I kind of had to show a lot of skin, hindi naman nude. Pero the physical preparations talaga, malala! Probably that would be the hardest pero fun, fun din.”
Michelle is also thinking ahead, “I kind of have this five-six year plan na I want to break into the international modelling scene as well. Let’s see where that goes. Just get as much exper i ence, take chances, and charge right into it, and let’s see what happens.”
At present, two of Michelle’s biggest style icons apart from her mom, of course, are Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid.
“Hindi mawawala ‘yan, I like kasi how laid-back and chill they are on their day offs. They’re still like, ‘Wow, ang ganda mo pa rin!’ But they’re wearing just simple style staples l an g.”
Being compared to her celebrity mom is inevitable. “I’m proud of my mom. And I don’t mind being compared to her as long as it’s not negative, okay lang yun.”
She descr i bed Melanie as “very supportive, very loving” as a mother, “I couldn’t really ask for anything more from her as a mom...she did the best
she can and, hopefully, I turn out to be someone she’s proud of din.”
Naturally, Michelle gets the best advice about modelling from Melanie, like, “Just be yourself, don’t think about the crowd too much, and trust in what you know.” Like Melanie, Michelle’s biggest assets as a model are her long legs and height. The 22year-old model is also blessed with a beautiful skin. “I always get compliments for my skin.”
Has she made a decision to stick it out as a model or is Michelle considering to give showbiz a try?
“I can’t disclose that, wait for it na lang, wait for the official announcement
na lang, if ever. Pero my options are always open, of course.”
She admitted feeling the weight of making a choice, “Excitement and pressure, pero first and foremost, pressure talaga. Pero it’s something...I think, everybody deals with pressure every now and t hen.”
Although noncommittal, Michalle gave her thoughts about acting, “It’s challenging, I mean, I don’t really have anything bad to say.
“Personally, acting kasi is a form of expression, it’s an art. So I have very high respect for actors and actresses out there.”
MANILA -- It may not happen this year, but veteran actor Aga Muhlach assured his fans that his highly anticipated reunion movie with Lea Salonga will push through.
Earlier this year, many were disappointed when Salonga announced that her third movie project with Muhlach won't be hitting cinemas anytime soon. It follows the success of their first two movies, "Sana Maulit Muli" and "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal."
Speaking to bloggers on Thursday, Muhlach said he and Salonga "owe it to the public" to make one "last" film together.
"Lea and I will make it happen, but we just don't know when," he said.
Salonga is currently in New York for the revival of "Once On This Island" on Broadway. Muhlach said she will be back in the country next June.
"Ilang years na naming pina-plano 'yan, at hindi natutuloy. Pero, let's see. If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen," he said.
At the same bloggers' conference, Muhlach was asked to name three leading ladies he'd like to work with soon. It was no surprise that Salonga tops his list.
Meanwhile, after five years, Muhlach is making his movie comeback in Star Cinema's "Seven Sundays," which opens in cinemas on October 11.
In the ensemble family drama, Muhlach plays the eldest son of Ronaldo Valdez. Playing his siblings are Dingdong Dantes, Cristine Reyes and Enrique Gil.
Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, "Seven Sundays" also stars Donita Rose, Ketchup Eusebio, and Kean Cipriano, among others.