Tessa Mendoza with Alexandra and Danielle Daza
The artist Tessa Mendoza has put her modeling days behind in favor of her craft as a painter, but her superb bone structure and laissez-faire beauty approach remain – and have been passed down in equal measure among her daughters Alexandra and Danielle Daza. Born in alternating order to brothers actor Franco and Myx VJ Turs, fiery Alexandra is a Re/Max realtor and muay thai enthusiast while the baby in the family Danielle is a graduating English major from Ateneo de Manila. All together, they balance each other out and share a bond where they constantly learn from one another — from nurturing their spiritual lives to picking the right Instagram filter because between mother and daughters, it’s always #nofilter.
TESSA
Sisters? Yes, we’ve been mistaken
for sisters. There was a time when I had to go to the Administrative Office in their school in Vancouver and the staff thought I was an older sister.
My daughters inspire me. Danielle inspires me to be calm, gentle and kind, to learn a musical instrument and that inner strength and discernment are important. Alexandra, or Ali as we like to call her, inspires me to be more mindful and compassionate towards animals, not just pets but all animals. She has a big heart this way. She is also practical, honest and brave. I wish I had Alexandra’s courage to go out, take the bull by the horns and just get things done. One advantage of looking like sisters is we get to share makeup!
My daughters make me laugh when they playfully mimic my quirkiness.
I wish my daughters would continuously nurture their strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Nothing would make me happier than to see all my children loving God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.
ALEXANDRA and DANIELLE
I feel like my mom is like my sister when...
Alexandra: We talk about boys. Danielle: We hang out and relate to each other. We help each other with our makeup. We give each other fashion advice. We’re more or less the same shoe size. My mom is so hip, she... Alexandra: she plays the ukelele and she still wears bikinis. My mom asks for my advice... Alexandra: When she’s painting. Danielle: For what to wear to brunch. I wish my mom would… Danielle: Take us out for drinks. Alexandra: Paint a portrait of me. I hate it when my mom… Alexandra: Asks me too many questions or makes me utos! Danielle: Ha ha! I’d say the same thing!
The best lesson I learned from my mom is...
Danielle: Always put God first. Always nurture your spiritual life.