Will she soar as Darna?
Body Talk with Viva artist Yassi Pressman
She’s perfect as Darna (isn’t she?), but Viva star Yassi Pressman has only been rumored to be the next Flying Woman and hasn’t been actually chosen even now that she (together with Bela Padilla, another Viva talent) have just signed up with the Kapamilya network (where, as a kid, she appeared in the tearjerker series Gulong ng Palad). But come to think of it, isn’t it high time that local filmdom’s female counterpart of Superman be left alone, after having been played through the decades by the likes of Rosa del Rosario (the original Darna), Eva Montes, Vilma Santos, Anjanette Abayari and Angel Locsin (reportedly being eyed to reprise the iconic komiks character that catapulted her to stardom during her Kapuso days)?
At the moment, Yassi is focused on the long-running Kapamilya action-adventure series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano as Alyana, the girlfriend of the titular actor Coco Martin. After she signed up as Viva artist in 2013, Yassi was cast in the P120M movie Diary Ng Panget (2014) co-starring James Reid, Andre Paras and Nadine Lustre; and launched as lead star in Girlfriend For Hire. Her latest movie was Camp Sawi (2016). Dubbed as Princess of the Dance Floor by a defunct musical-variety show, Yassi released an eponymous album in 2015 and was named 2016 Awit awardee for Best Dance Recording (for Lala). The same year, she bagged an Anak TV award and served as a housemate in Pinoy Big Brother (PBB)’s AllStar Edition. Yasmin Isabel Yasto Pressman was born on May 11, 1995 (a Taurian) in Hong Kong to a British father and a Filipino mother from Isabela. Her second name, Isabel, is a nod to her mother’s home province. She has a younger sister, Issa, who is also in showbiz (it was Issa who joined Eat, Bulaga!’s Little Miss Philippines search with Ella Cruz, another Viva artist, and not Yassi as mentioned in a recent story about Ella and Julian Trono; Yassi fourth runner-up in the Munting Miss U contest). At six years old, Yassi did her first TV commercial for a brand of toothpaste, followed by many more (current endorsements: Creamsilk, Choco Mucho, Lip Ice, Greenwich, Skin 101, Pepsi, Blacksheep, Metrobank Yazzcard and Kremtop). Yassi stands 5’3”; weighs 116 lbs.; and wears small-sized shirt and size-7 shoes.
What kind of diet do you follow? “I love bread, eggs and milk but those are the things that I try to stay away from kasi sobrang hindi ko matanggal ang
sugar.” What’s usually for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
“Usually, pandesal and coffee for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, it varies depending on what’s being catered on the set.” What food do you always crave for; what food do you avoid? “Chocolates. I try to avoid oily food.” How much water do you take per day; soda, coffee or tea?
“Sana I try to take eight glasses. I take as many as four cups of coffee especially during tapings.” What vitamins do you take? “I started taking vitamin C last week.” What workout do you do? “I’ve been boxing for five years. I’ve been doing Muay Thai this year.” What part of your body needs improvement? “Maybe my legs.” What part of your body is your favorite? “My lips and my hips.” What part of a guy’s body do you notice first? “His face. If it looks bright, nakakagaan tingnan. Also, his smile. Can you consider that a part of the body?” What’s in a guy turns you on? “First and foremost, he should be mabait.” What’s in a guy that turns you off? “Pag sobrang mayabang.” How’s your love life? “It’s like a glass with no water. Empty!!!” (Laughs) Do you have a nightlife? “None kasi we usually finish taping very late…every day.” How much sleep do you get per night? “Not much, only five hours or less. But I try to make up for it by taking power naps.” Favorite sleepwear? “Dress, yung komportable na dress. Sometimes, pajamas or white shirt.” Do you snore? “I don’t think so.” Do you talk in your sleep? “Baka.” (Laughs). “I think so.” How many pillows do you sleep with? “Three. One under my head, one under my left leg and one under my right leg.” Last thing you do before you sleep? “Thank God for the day.” First thing that you do as soon as you
wake up?
“Turn off the alarm on my celfone and check the text messages baka important. Sometimes, I do many things; sometimes, wala.” (Laughs) How do you unwind, cope with stress?
“Massage…always. I also like going up to high places like Antipolo, Tagaytay or San Mateo from where I can see buildings clustered like toys. I can also feel how huge the world is and that’s when my problems don’t seem to be that big.
“Climbing mountains is challenging both mentally and physically. I feel like I always get to a point when I feel like I can’t make it anymore when I climb, and you would always have the option of giving up. But I like how with the people around you, you push yourselves to finish the task no matter how difficult it is. And conquering the peak of a mountain is soooo fulfilling, it inspires me. The beauty of the world inspires me as well, the birds that fly, the sunsets. I can’t believe we live here. It’s amazing, and given an opportunity to live in this life, I would want to make the most out of everyday.” Favorite hideaway? “Siguro, Batangas kasi that’s where the accessible beaches are. I love the beach.” How long does it take you to fix yourself? “At home, kaya ko ng mga five minutes. But sometimes on the set, it takes me two hours.” Are you vain like most women?
“I don’t think so. On a regular day, I just wear white shirt and jeans, my hair simply tied.” Three men that you think have nice bodies? “Ryan Gosling, Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt.” And three women that you think have nice bodies? “Beyoncé, Angelina Jolie and Rihanna.” Using only body language how would you make a guy know that you admire him? “Ako, I’m very caring. I think kapag nafifeel ko na gusto ko yung tao lagi kong papakitaan ng sweet, simple gestures. For example, dalhan ko siya ng food.” (E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@ gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)
Her main focus at this time is not donning the tights worn by several actresses but her work as Coco Martin’s leading lady in the long-running Kapamilya action-adventure Ang Probinsyano (photo, top)