Kylie Verzosa reaps the fruits of her hard work
THE year 2022 is a landmark year for beauty-queen-turned-actress Kylie Verzosa. Not only was she named a calendar girl for a liquor brand — an elusive feat for celebrities — she also had her first acting recognition this year, a Best Actress from DIAFA Awards.
“I feel so grateful, hindi ko ineexpect na ito yung mangyayari sa akin this year,” Verzosa said at her Tanduay 2022 Calendar Girl launch, just a few days after receiving her acting award in Dubai.
“You know what they say — whatever you plant, you reap the fruits of your labor. I’m just so grateful. I’m really so overwhelmed,” she added.
Verzosa won for her role in the sensual thriller “The Housemaid.” A local adaptation of the 2010 Korean movie of the same title, Verzosa played Daisy, the innocent house help who got in trouble after her boss seduced her. It was her first leading role in a movie after playing supporting characters.
In her acceptance speech, the 30-year-old actress recalled how it was only her dream to receive an acting award when she started her career in show business four years ago. She hopes that her award can
be an inspiration and reminder for other women to dream big.
“I want to remind all young girls and all young women out there, to keep on dreaming, to never give up on their dreams and don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t deserve it or that you started late or that you are not good enough, not pretty enough or not smart enough, because you are.”
Days after her winning moment and Verzosa maintained that it was challenging to start an acting career after winning the Miss International 2016 title.
“Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako kasi mahirap pasukan ang industriya na you didn’t really start in. So coming to acting as a beauty queen, there’s so many stereotype and mahirap kasi iba talaga yung discipline, practice.”
It would take her a few years and a few more roles before finally achieving the feat she used to only dream of.
“Finally all my hard work has paid off and finally na acknowledge na ako ng isang award-giving body na nasa Dubai in a movie that celebrates the strength of Filipinos.”
And as if her recent win wasn’t enough, Verzosa was also launched as a calendar girl, which she called “another dream come true.”
“It feels so good, so great, I feel like it’s another dream come true of mine.”
Verzosa shared how from the moment Viva — her management company — big boss Vic del Rosario told her of her endorsement, she already started preparing.
“Umiyak ako nung sinabi ni Boss Vic sa akin na ako ang bagong calendar girl. I really prepared so much for this shoot. Syempre gusto natin na we’re in the best shape so I really did a lot of cardio and became even more strict with my diet.”
She said she wanted to exude fun and confident vibes in her layouts and was satisfied when she saw her final photos looking every bit dreamy and aspirational.
Finally, Verzosa pleaded that calendar girls be not be pitted against each other. This was after he was asked at her launch how she felt following the footsteps of Bea Alonzo, the 2021 Tanduay Calendar Girl.
“Each one of us is different in our own ways, that’s why there’s a calendar girl each year. Sana makita nyo kung sino yung babae nasa harap nyo for who they are, na walang comparison,” Verzosa ended.