Breaking stereotypes and conquering runways
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HThis was how Danica Magpantay described how she felt after winning the 2011 Ford Supermodel of the World and besting the representatives of other countries all over the world.
“It was an overwhelming feeling but a humbling experience,” Magpantay told a handful of writers during a pocket interview sponsored by Globe at Mario’s Restaurant in Quezon City. Danica is the newest ambassador of Globe’s Tattoo@home.
“Most people would think na lalaki ang ulo ko [I’m full of myself], but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was just an ordinary girl before all this. I was that girl looking at the other models and admiring them; then all of a sudden, when I won the competition there were these girls telling me that I’m the one they look up to already. So I just put myself back in that position, and it’s always humbling,” she narrated.
At 17-years-old, Danica became the first Filipina to bag the top prize of the prestigious modeling competition, and just the second Asian to win in the prestigious international modeling tilt ( the first was Hyoni Kang of South Korea). She is also the third Filipina in the last decade to reach the finals, following Charo Ronquillo in 2006 and Charlene Almarvez in 2010.
UMBLING.”
Just a girl
Danica is the daughter of former Ford Supermodel Philippines winner Milagros “Lala” Flores and Renato “Pogs” Magpantay. Her sister Danielle is also a model, and was also a finalist in the 2011 competition together with her.
Surprisingly though, Danica said she never dreamt of pursuing a serious modeling career.
“I grew up with a supermodel mom, so somehow, I always knew that I’d do modeling, but not as a main profession but parang [just like a] sideling lang. Alam mo ‘yong try-try lang, petiks lang na aral- model, but chill lang [I just wanted to try it out],” she related.
“I wasn’t groomed to be a model. I dreamed of becoming a model but I didn’t grow up trying to be one. When I was a kid, I ate everything I wanted, especially chocolates, but when I realized that I could actually reach one of my dreams, I really worked hard to achieve it.”
It was barely a few months before the Philippine competitions that Danica told her mom that she wanted to give modeling a try to which her mom could only say yes as she helped her prepare.
She enrolled at the Masters School for Models for an intensive course on walking, posing and looking like a goddess at all times. Danica said in an earlier interview that she would watch hours of modeling videos on Youtube and do re- search on the Internet.
“I got into modeling to inspire and empower young women—to show them that not all models are just slim bodies and pretty faces. My story is about a girl who worked hard to achieve her dream. I want to tell all the girls that you don’t have to be a princess or the picture perfect girl to achieve something or to be someone— that they can be me! Just a normal student who worked hard to pursue a dream. It’s empowering.”
Danica admits she wanted to win but wasn’t really expecting to win the top title.
“I was just praying, Lord, kapag nanalo ako . . . gusto ko talagang manalo. But if not, ipakita mo sa akin ‘ yong gusto mong mangyari [ I asked God to help me win because I really wanted to win, but I also told him to show me what He wanted to happen to me].
“I’m really thankful that God made this happen, because it could have been anyone, but He made me win so it was super overwhelming,” she added.
Since she won the competition Danica has become part of fashion’s biggest events such as the Mercedez Benz New York Fashion Week Fall/ Winter 2011 for Bensoni Presentation, Bibhu Mohaptra, Nanette Lapore, Odd Molly, and Organic by John Patrick and Tim Hamilton. Danica was part of the Philippine Fashion Week Spring/ Summer 2012 in October 2011 and was chosen by designers Albert Andrada, Michael Cinco, and Cesar Gaupo. Aside from Globe Tattoo she also endorses local clothing brands Penshoppe, Oxygen, Freego, and SM Ladies
Fashion.
X Factor
Every model always has that exceptional characteristic that makes them standout— or what people call the X-factor.
Asked what she first liked most about her body, Danica shyly replied, “I think it’s my waist, I’m just proud of my 22- inch waistline— every time