Masthead moment. Gayle Ong lands on top of the masthead of the Chicago Sun Times.

IN Ford Model’s annual Supermodel of the World competition, the wealthy potential of representatives from an international field is so deep that even nonwinners are able to grab the right runway endorsements and the coveted fashion spreads in all the style bibles.

Consider Chanel Iman, a Korean-African American gawky teenager with two fashion icon names who is all over the industry radar. She was in the top five in 2006, but eventually lost to Katsia Damankova of Belarus, Bojana Reijic of Canada and our very own Charo Ronquillo.

All over The set card of Charo featuring her various stints all over, and a clipping of her US Weekly exposure via Project Runway winner Chloe Dao.

Still, Iman has since walked for Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Alexander McQueen, Proenza Schouler and Anna Sui. On models.com, the industry guide to the hottest and latest, she is No. 29, the highest-ranked Ford model on the roster. Flavia is No .43 while Cicely rounds up the Top 50. Previous winners are nowhere to be found in the rankings, not even the 2007 winner Sanne Nijhof of the Netherlands.

The point is, winners or not, just being in a competition gives an aspiring model maximum exposure and affords them a splashy foray into the modeling world. While Damankova and Reijic have retreated to their home bases to resume their studies, Ronquillo is slowly conquering the runways of New York.

At New York Fashion Week, she did Lacoste, Lela Rose, Nanette Lepore, Zero Maria Cornejo, Tory Burch, Antonio Berardi, Sisley, Benetton, Kenneth Cole, Mac Cosmetics Barbie Collection and Season 2 of the hit reality show Project Runway.

Ronquillo also graced the pages of Teen Vogue, Marie Claire Paris, Marie Claire US, Glamour, US, Time Out Magazine New York, Glitter Magazine Japan and Neon Magazine Germany. The Laguna lass also landed numerous print advertising campaigns for Macy’s, Target, Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Old Navy, Matrix, Ann Taylor Loft, Triple Five Soul, Sea Gate Technologies, Lorena Calma and David’s Bridal.

Work it, girl. Laguna lass and Fod model Charo Ronquillo, working a Lorena Calma dress in New York.

As everyone in our little so-called industry knows, Charo’s road to success is being paved by the Espino brothers, Joey and Audie, through their CalCarrie’s International models agency and Runway Productions, the local producer of the Ford Supermodels contest in which she represented the Philippines last year. “Discovering, nurturing and developing world-class talents is what the Espino brothers are about,” explains Tina Herrera, producer for Runway Productions/Supermodel of the World Philippines and Philippine Fashion Week.

“In the past, Supermodel Philippines has produced Asian runway stars Nina Naval, 2tay Maristela and Marjay Ramirez,” adds Gerard Castillo, also a producer of Runway Productions/Supermodel Philippines. “Their regional success inspired the more recent generation of Filipina Supermodels to go on and become global success stories.” Also-rans unperturbed by their losses and who eventually made it in the circuit include Karla Bautista (Binibining Pilipinas World), Gayle Ong (a Chicago-based Ford model), 2tay Maristela (the best catwalker in the biz) and Christine Bayer (an editorial darling).

In an open casting on August 24 at 8 am, at the Rockwell Tent, CalCarrie’s will once again be on the lookout for the next Charo Ronquillo, or someone who can surpass what she has accomplished, being the first Asian to place so highly in the world finals. The criteria are the following: At least 14 years old, natural born female, valid Philippine passport, clear skin, impressive bone structure, good teeth, proportional body measurements and a positive attitude. Aspirants must bring a black mini dress, heels and swimwear with no makeup.

For more information about the contest and its prizes, contact 844- 0350 and 753-3688. Online applications are available at www.calcarries.com or www.runwayproduction.com.

Strut Your Stuff, Supermodel

IN Ford Model’s annual Supermodel of the World competition, the wealthy potential of representatives from an international field is so deep that even nonwinners are able to grab the right runway endorsements and the coveted fashion spreads in all the style bibles.

From the Hip: In the Eye of a Storm

ABOUT two weeks ago, the news was filled with gloom-and-doom scenarios of the drought that was inevitable in the country as a result of scarce rainfall during the rainy season. In reaction to the dire scenarios predicted, the Catholic Church called on its faithful flock to pray for rain.

Gab Fab: Despite rains, ‘Love Story’ draws ‘em in

I’m sure that rumormongers will doubt the reported first-day figures of A Love Story, the last of which was in the province of P50 million nationwide. How could that be possible when there was a big storm ravaging our country at the time, skeptics will no doubt ask.

The Strongest Arm of the Law

PLAYING a serial killer is easier than playing a hero. Just ask Christopher Meloni, whose roles include Detective Elliot Stabler on NBC’s Law & Order: SVU and the darkly quirky Chris Keller on the now-defunct HBO series Oz.

So you want to look like a celebrity?

A HEALTHY diet, exercise and how you carry yourself are still the basics to looking and feeling good and healthy. However, these days anybody can be revitalized and look young again with the latest in nonsurgical rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery at the Cosmetic Surgery Center of Asian Hospital and Medical Center, located at the Filinvest Corporate City in Alabang, Muntinlupa.