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Charo Ronquillo
- Thread starter PussyLee
- Start date
May 26 2009
AngeloftheEast
Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2008
- Messages
- 314
- Reaction score
- 0
it happened yesterday..
Huh! i just remembered, ETC is going to telecast the PFW..
i've missed the 1st day..
anyway, she looks fantastic..
Huh! i just remembered, ETC is going to telecast the PFW..
i've missed the 1st day..
anyway, she looks fantastic..
dont forget to credit your image 
i think she might have to if she wants to make it big. but i honestly really like her shape. she looks very healthy. i think its also a filipino thing. if you look skiny, your grandma will make you some empanada.
i think she might have to if she wants to make it big. but i honestly really like her shape. she looks very healthy. i think its also a filipino thing. if you look skiny, your grandma will make you some empanada.
From Person to Presence
Life
Written by C. Mendez Legaspi / Photographed by MJ Cachero
Friday, 29 May 2009 00:29
‘You’re so tall! You’re so beautiful!” Two Korean tourists behold the stunning Filipina they encounter at a Makati coffeeshop. Both obviously have no inkling who she is, but they sure know that she is someone important. Cameras ready, they took turns posing with her, deliriously happy as if they just snapped a shot with, uhm, Kate Moss. The charming Filipina, flashing a megawatt smile at the admiring strangers, is Charo Ronquillo.
Slender in a halter summer dress, silky long hair blowing in the hot wind, she strides with a confidence that can only be gained by years of working abroad. The 2005 Ford Supermodel runner-up is in the country for Philippine Fashion Week, a major reason why she puts on hold her burgeoning US career to give back and walk for Filipino designers in an effort to uplift the local fashion scene.
Before coming home, she finished an editorial for Seventeen magazine. “Five pages!” Charo says proudly. “For New York Fashion Week, I did Eli Tahari Cho Cheng and La Perla.” What’s a marked difference between NYFW and PFW? “In New York it is one designer per show. Here, we have a group of designers doing a single show,” she explains.
We clearly have a long way to go, but with the able stewardship of the brothers Audie and Joey Espino through their Runway Productions, we are slowly setting ourselves on a par with the rest of the fashion world. To lend an international semblance to the proceedings, Joey adapts everything he has learned in New York to the way shows are produced, while Audie imparts his knowledge about Sydney Fashion Week to give the productions a global flair.
Charo leads a bevy of US-based CalCarries ramp queens, such as Meki Saldana, Sabina Lopez, Gayle Ong and Giselle Paqueo, who are ruling the runways in the ongoing Fashion Week. But how does Charo fare in the international catwalk? Since her Ford Supermodel win, she has strutted for Lacoste, Lela Rose, Nanette Lepore, Zero Maria Cornejo, Tory Burch, Antonio Berardi, Kenneth Cole, Mac Cosmetics Barbie Collection, Zaldy by Gwen Stefani, BCBG, Sisley and Benetton. Incidentally, she was one of fellow Asian achiever Chloe Dao’s models on the finale of Project Runway Season 2.
“It’s supercompetitive over there. I’m 5'9", which is a normal height, but sometimes designers want their models to be 5'10" and taller,” she shares, with just a hint of exasperation. “I really want to do more runway shows.” She’s excited every time she goes on go-sees, as she is sure to bump into her idols Gemma Ward, Natasha Poly and Raquel Zimmerman. And also to just touch base with friends Katy Sommers and Camilla Finn.
What she can’t complain about, though, is the inordinate amount of fashion spreads she does for various publications. She has graced the pages of Spanish Vogue, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire Paris and US, and Glamour, and catalogs for Macy’s, Old Navy and Sak’s Fifth Avenue, among others. A career highlight was when she posed for the legendary photographer Bruce Weber for a Ralph Lauren American Living campaign for JC Penney.
A dream job? “To pose for Steven Meisel!” She glows at the thought of working for the world’s top fashion photographer, which has already come true for one of her earliest and closest friends in the business, Chanel Iman. “Yeah, we still keep in touch since her career really took off. We were together in the models’ apartment in New York after we won in the Ford contest.” The top winners in their year, Belarus and Canada, have opted to finish their studies first and have since become famous models in their countries.
Charo is intent on pursuing her studies, but there’s simply no time yet. “There are a lot of times I do jobs not only in New York and New Jersey but I take flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Arizona and Milwaukee. There are times that I go out of the US and do one- or two-day shoots in Montreal, Canada. There was one time I also did a summer shoot in the Bahamas, that is definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences of my modeling life!” This simple, unassuming lass from Cabuyao, Laguna, has really gone places less ambitious, less motivated models can only fantasize about.
Success, as Charo learned the hard way, comes with sacrifices. After winning the supermodel competition, she had to be away from home, her family and her friends. “I also feel homesick at times. But I have new friends from different countries—actually I gained more friends because of modeling. I have also sacrificed my studies and, for me, modeling will pave the way for my greater studies. I’m saving now for my future education, and planning to continue my studies in the US. All my sacrifices are worth it, for I believe that God has big things in store for me. As they say, no pain, no gain!,” she says.
“I have achieved success at a young age because I have God, courage and determination. I feel blessed, thankful and very happy. I always have positive thoughts in my mind during castings, jobs and flights. I always think of my dreams and goals, my family and my future,” she intimates.
“Success has changed my life in a huge way, and for me it is easy to stay true to oneself in such a cutthroat and fast-changing industry. Being true to yourself makes everything easy. First, you have to know yourself: what are your weak points and strong points. Second: know your capabilities and know the things that you can and cannot do. Third: how far you can go and where do you want to be.”
Spiritually, Charo has learned to find time to go to Mass every day as much as possible. “I live by myself so I pray a lot, and that makes me feel blessed, guided, happy, much lighter and positive all the time. Financially, I’ve learned to work hard, to manage and save money for my future. With communication, I have learned to relate to different people from different parts of the world. I’ve also learned to focus and have peace of mind. And, most of all, working in New York will make you learn to stretch your mind and make you mature in a split second.”
How does she stay healthy in such a frantic world of erratic schedules, crossing time zones and bloated egos? “It is having a balanced mind, body, soul and spirit. A healthy person is beautiful and a beautiful person is somebody who is great inside and out, always positive and focused, one who can think right and who is always confident, happy, feels good about herself, and takes good care of what God has given her.”
Staying grounded, Charo stresses, is truly important “because that is everything for me. To stay humble and not lose sight of who you really are is what I truly aspire for. I always pray that God will always guide me and show me the way. God tells me to be a blessing to others, for I know He will bless my life as well. I try my best to find ways on how to help others the best way possible.”
Does she encourage young girls from her hometown to follow in her high-heeled footsteps? “Not just in Laguna but anywhere.” Who does she see among the models as having the potential to make it in New York? “Samantha Lewis.”
So, what does it take to make it in New York? “Professionalism: be on time always, be good in what you do, and you must deliver what is asked of you. Personality: clients and casters are very smart and have a very sharp eye. With just one look, they would know if you’ve got what it takes. You should know how to communicate effectively with the people in the industry who are speaking different languages. You must be full of energy and be enjoyable to work with. Positive attitude: you must always possess positive thoughts wherever, whenever and whatever you do. Know how to distinguish which one is empowering and which one is not. You must also learn how to handle criticisms but refuse to take it personally. And always remember: learn to believe in yourself because when you believe in yourself, you are happy and when you’re happy, you are successful.”
Having scored unprecedented achievements, what more does she want to do? “I really want to work in Europe. But Ford and Joey Espino, who oversees all my bookings, insist that since I’m still busy with jobs in New York, then I should concentrate there for the meantime,” Charo says. “But I really want to experience working with Lagerfeld, Prada, Armani, all the big names!”
With her steely determination and unflinching focus, such a future won’t be far-fetched for Charo Ronquillo.
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/life/10975-from-person-to-presence.html
Life
Written by C. Mendez Legaspi / Photographed by MJ Cachero
Friday, 29 May 2009 00:29
‘You’re so tall! You’re so beautiful!” Two Korean tourists behold the stunning Filipina they encounter at a Makati coffeeshop. Both obviously have no inkling who she is, but they sure know that she is someone important. Cameras ready, they took turns posing with her, deliriously happy as if they just snapped a shot with, uhm, Kate Moss. The charming Filipina, flashing a megawatt smile at the admiring strangers, is Charo Ronquillo.
Slender in a halter summer dress, silky long hair blowing in the hot wind, she strides with a confidence that can only be gained by years of working abroad. The 2005 Ford Supermodel runner-up is in the country for Philippine Fashion Week, a major reason why she puts on hold her burgeoning US career to give back and walk for Filipino designers in an effort to uplift the local fashion scene.
Before coming home, she finished an editorial for Seventeen magazine. “Five pages!” Charo says proudly. “For New York Fashion Week, I did Eli Tahari Cho Cheng and La Perla.” What’s a marked difference between NYFW and PFW? “In New York it is one designer per show. Here, we have a group of designers doing a single show,” she explains.
We clearly have a long way to go, but with the able stewardship of the brothers Audie and Joey Espino through their Runway Productions, we are slowly setting ourselves on a par with the rest of the fashion world. To lend an international semblance to the proceedings, Joey adapts everything he has learned in New York to the way shows are produced, while Audie imparts his knowledge about Sydney Fashion Week to give the productions a global flair.
Charo leads a bevy of US-based CalCarries ramp queens, such as Meki Saldana, Sabina Lopez, Gayle Ong and Giselle Paqueo, who are ruling the runways in the ongoing Fashion Week. But how does Charo fare in the international catwalk? Since her Ford Supermodel win, she has strutted for Lacoste, Lela Rose, Nanette Lepore, Zero Maria Cornejo, Tory Burch, Antonio Berardi, Kenneth Cole, Mac Cosmetics Barbie Collection, Zaldy by Gwen Stefani, BCBG, Sisley and Benetton. Incidentally, she was one of fellow Asian achiever Chloe Dao’s models on the finale of Project Runway Season 2.
“It’s supercompetitive over there. I’m 5'9", which is a normal height, but sometimes designers want their models to be 5'10" and taller,” she shares, with just a hint of exasperation. “I really want to do more runway shows.” She’s excited every time she goes on go-sees, as she is sure to bump into her idols Gemma Ward, Natasha Poly and Raquel Zimmerman. And also to just touch base with friends Katy Sommers and Camilla Finn.
What she can’t complain about, though, is the inordinate amount of fashion spreads she does for various publications. She has graced the pages of Spanish Vogue, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire Paris and US, and Glamour, and catalogs for Macy’s, Old Navy and Sak’s Fifth Avenue, among others. A career highlight was when she posed for the legendary photographer Bruce Weber for a Ralph Lauren American Living campaign for JC Penney.
A dream job? “To pose for Steven Meisel!” She glows at the thought of working for the world’s top fashion photographer, which has already come true for one of her earliest and closest friends in the business, Chanel Iman. “Yeah, we still keep in touch since her career really took off. We were together in the models’ apartment in New York after we won in the Ford contest.” The top winners in their year, Belarus and Canada, have opted to finish their studies first and have since become famous models in their countries.
Charo is intent on pursuing her studies, but there’s simply no time yet. “There are a lot of times I do jobs not only in New York and New Jersey but I take flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Arizona and Milwaukee. There are times that I go out of the US and do one- or two-day shoots in Montreal, Canada. There was one time I also did a summer shoot in the Bahamas, that is definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences of my modeling life!” This simple, unassuming lass from Cabuyao, Laguna, has really gone places less ambitious, less motivated models can only fantasize about.
Success, as Charo learned the hard way, comes with sacrifices. After winning the supermodel competition, she had to be away from home, her family and her friends. “I also feel homesick at times. But I have new friends from different countries—actually I gained more friends because of modeling. I have also sacrificed my studies and, for me, modeling will pave the way for my greater studies. I’m saving now for my future education, and planning to continue my studies in the US. All my sacrifices are worth it, for I believe that God has big things in store for me. As they say, no pain, no gain!,” she says.
“I have achieved success at a young age because I have God, courage and determination. I feel blessed, thankful and very happy. I always have positive thoughts in my mind during castings, jobs and flights. I always think of my dreams and goals, my family and my future,” she intimates.
“Success has changed my life in a huge way, and for me it is easy to stay true to oneself in such a cutthroat and fast-changing industry. Being true to yourself makes everything easy. First, you have to know yourself: what are your weak points and strong points. Second: know your capabilities and know the things that you can and cannot do. Third: how far you can go and where do you want to be.”
Spiritually, Charo has learned to find time to go to Mass every day as much as possible. “I live by myself so I pray a lot, and that makes me feel blessed, guided, happy, much lighter and positive all the time. Financially, I’ve learned to work hard, to manage and save money for my future. With communication, I have learned to relate to different people from different parts of the world. I’ve also learned to focus and have peace of mind. And, most of all, working in New York will make you learn to stretch your mind and make you mature in a split second.”
How does she stay healthy in such a frantic world of erratic schedules, crossing time zones and bloated egos? “It is having a balanced mind, body, soul and spirit. A healthy person is beautiful and a beautiful person is somebody who is great inside and out, always positive and focused, one who can think right and who is always confident, happy, feels good about herself, and takes good care of what God has given her.”
Staying grounded, Charo stresses, is truly important “because that is everything for me. To stay humble and not lose sight of who you really are is what I truly aspire for. I always pray that God will always guide me and show me the way. God tells me to be a blessing to others, for I know He will bless my life as well. I try my best to find ways on how to help others the best way possible.”
Does she encourage young girls from her hometown to follow in her high-heeled footsteps? “Not just in Laguna but anywhere.” Who does she see among the models as having the potential to make it in New York? “Samantha Lewis.”
So, what does it take to make it in New York? “Professionalism: be on time always, be good in what you do, and you must deliver what is asked of you. Personality: clients and casters are very smart and have a very sharp eye. With just one look, they would know if you’ve got what it takes. You should know how to communicate effectively with the people in the industry who are speaking different languages. You must be full of energy and be enjoyable to work with. Positive attitude: you must always possess positive thoughts wherever, whenever and whatever you do. Know how to distinguish which one is empowering and which one is not. You must also learn how to handle criticisms but refuse to take it personally. And always remember: learn to believe in yourself because when you believe in yourself, you are happy and when you’re happy, you are successful.”
Having scored unprecedented achievements, what more does she want to do? “I really want to work in Europe. But Ford and Joey Espino, who oversees all my bookings, insist that since I’m still busy with jobs in New York, then I should concentrate there for the meantime,” Charo says. “But I really want to experience working with Lagerfeld, Prada, Armani, all the big names!”
With her steely determination and unflinching focus, such a future won’t be far-fetched for Charo Ronquillo.
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/life/10975-from-person-to-presence.html
Attachments
New York Fashion Week Fall 2009 Collections
La Perla Black Label
Ph: Zach Hyman for patrickmcmullan.com via http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/around_town/fashion/La_Perla_Black_Label_Fall_2009_Collection.html
La Perla Black Label
Ph: Zach Hyman for patrickmcmullan.com via http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/around_town/fashion/La_Perla_Black_Label_Fall_2009_Collection.html
