Charo Ronquillo started modeling when she was 16, then found her place in the local fashion map after winning Ford Supermodel of the Philippines 2005. But, it was her third place finish at the Ford Supermodel of the World in 2006 that made her one of the Filipinas making us proud on the runways of New York.
Charo has done haute couture shows in Paris for Julien Fournie and Eric Tibusch, numerous New York Fashion Week shows, and US magazine editorials. Locally, Charo bagged her first commercial, for Tropicana Coco Quench, and clothing endorsement, for Unica Hija. Next on her agenda: booking more jobs in London and the rest of Asia as well.
Personal style
When it comes to her own fashion sense, Charo says it usually depends on where in the world she is. In Manila she prefers to wear loose clothing, shorts, and dresses. Back in New York, where she's based, you'll often see her in black leggings, black tank top, and black heels--the basic model-goes-to-casting uniform. She also loves wearing tank tops, baggy jeans, and Converse sneakers, and confesses to enjoying cold weather because it allows her to change up her closet.
When Kristn.com caught up with the busy Charo recently, we asked her to share some of the fashion wisdom she's gathered from walking international runways, being backstage at designers' and brands' shows, and her own journey with fashion. View the gallery below for her top six style tips!
Photos by Cons Reyes
1. How can we learn to walk in high heels?
"Practice! I also learned because I went to modeling school."
2. What's the best color for morenas?
"Actually 'yung mga pastel. Madaming mga damit na kapag tiningnan mo, hindi maganda. Parang hindi naman bagay sa’yo, pero 'pag sinuot mo, madaming magco-compliment sa'yo. Like neon, when you pair it with a basic color, it'll pop."
3. How can real girls pull off the model look?
"Sometimes 'pag too much, nagiging tacky 'yung itsura. 'Pag pinilit mag-heels tapos hindi naman makalakad. Kailangan lang nila mag-invest sa basics plus [trendy] na gamit, and then combine it. Hindi 'yung puro catchy altogether. Pwedeng super basic 'yung suot mo and pwede ka mag-studded shoes. Then maybe something sa taas like a bandana or sunglasses."
4. How do you keep fit?
"Yoga, P90X, at saka I run one hour a day. Right now I run at East River and Central Park with my dog. At saka gym, [I do] weights. Kailangan magaan and maraming repetition para toned [lang]."
5. How can we look good in photos?
"You have to feel it. When you smile, dapat nakikita nila 'yung emotion mo."
6. Where do you get your confidence?
"My personality. Siyempre 'yung mga kasabay ko nung nagsisimula pa lang ako, matatagal na. Pero 'pag nakita ako nung client, tapos nakikita nila iba 'yung energy ko, that's where I get them. There's something different na gusto nilang malaman, especially 'pag tinanong nila, 'Where are you from?' kasi wala silang idea. When I say 'Philippines,' napapansin ko nakikinig na sila sa lahat ng sasabihin ko. So 'yun 'yung advantage ng pagiging kakaiba."
kristn.com/blog
Ford should really push her..
