Competition is all over television nowadays, especially of the preening, peacocking and posing variety. The ninth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race is under way, and pretty soon Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 will follow.
After 10 years, Cycle 2 of Philippines’ Next Top Model, taglined “High Street”, is airing once again, on Tuesdays, 8 pm, on TV 5. However, The Fiercest of Them All, airing on Sundays on GMA News TV at 9 pm, has the most unorthodox approach.
Fierce
Fiercest, or FoTa, is hosted by the Brazilian host-actress Daiana Menezes. “Nine years na ako sa showbiz dito sa Pilipinas. Ito ang pinakamagandang project na nagawa ko sa buong buhay ko, and I’m very proud. It feels like I shot 13 different movies sa editing [of the director]. Kapag nakita niyo ang material namin, hindi siya biro. I went to a film academy before, and I haven’t seen something that’s designed for TV but looks cinematic. I’m very proud to be a part of this.”
On every episode of FoTa, Daiana is decked in fantastical costumes or outrageous outfits, as she dishes out the challenges to a group of contestants composed of Filipinos and Europeans. As a “goddess” in this fanta-reality show, her otherwordly dresses are designed by cojudge Manu Respall of Doggficher.
“I dreamed of the name. It was written on the wall of a cave. The beauty of madness and broken realities are what I desire to translate with my designs,” explains the multitalented Manu, who also acts and directs. “My designs are postmodern avant-garde.”
He is inspired by Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh and Thierry Mugler. “My stint at FoTa was a miracle in motion. It was the most timely of circumstances. I knew God had something to do with its birth. It suited my aesthetics. The show wanted crazy, out of the box. That’s my first, middle and last name,” he quips.
Manu, defiant by nature, knows his aesthetic can be easily misconstrued. “I actually love it when people bash my art. All my life, people have told me I’m too much, I’m too crazy, I’m too European, I’m too out of the box. That’s why, now that I have a voice and the chance to say something, I’m telling the fashion and art industry here in our country: Stop killing art with commercialism! Shame on all artists who succumb to commercialism! I will interrupt the nature of fashion!”
Feisty
Maggie Wilson just won The Amazing Race Asia with fellow beauty queen Parul Shah, while Kylie Verzosa was just crowned Miss International 2015 when TV 5 CEO Chot Reyes asked them to be part of PNTM Cycle 2.
“I did my research. I’m a fan of the show to begin with, the American version. When I knew that I got the job, I started watching the past and current seasons just so I’m updated on how Rita Ora hosts the show and I watched the Tyra ones, as well. I don’t want to be just a host. I want to be fully immersed in the show, that’s why I wanted to be able to mentor the girls. I wanted to make my relationship with the girls more personal, because I truly genuinely care for them,” Maggie said at the launch of the show at Bonifacio High Street.
Kylie was iffy at first to accept the offer, because she was busy with her duties as the new Miss International: “But I really, really wanted to do the job. I love Tyra Banks and America’s Next Top Model. I learned a lot from it. Now I’m part of the Philippine franchise. It’s a dream come true for me!”
What does Maggie think of the roster of contestants? “I was pleasantly surprised when I saw them. Ang ganda nila! I love the fact that the girls have many different looks. We have a few dark-skinned girls, dusky girls, black girls, the Pinays, the mestizas, mixed-race girls. I love that we such a huge variety,” she says.
Not all contenders are a size zero but “to an extent, [weight was a consideration] moving on into the competition. In modeling, there are standards that we follow. We have to look at their physique, their height, their skin and how they work as a model, if they can be triple threats in terms of being able to work in trimedia—print, commercials and runway—and being a brand, as well, a spokesperson,” Maggie says.
“I’ve been in the industry for 14 years. I really had no one helping me. I make a joke that in the beginning, no one really cares about you, no one will help you, they don’t give you free clothes, no one teaches you. But now that I’m where I am today, everything is free. Everyone wants to help me. And I wish I had someone to mentor me when I was starting,” Maggie says. “So that for me is what I want to instill in the girls, because I want them to have a great platform to work with someone who can help them push themselves as better models and better people. I really want the best for them, because that’s also my name on the line.”
All the girls show potential, but Maggie and Kylie are looking for someone who can go the extra catwalk mile.
“I’m looking for growth. The essence ofthe show is to find a girl who can grow extensively in such a short amount of time. A model who is innovative, who not only looks the same in photoshoots, but I want a girl who looks different.
I want a girl who’s a chameleon. For me inmodeling, there’s no set beauty, so it could be anyone of the girls. What I’m looking for is fight,a girl who is feisty, who becomes stronger week after week after week. A girl who is willing tolearn, to grow, who listens but doesn’t lose herself in the process, has a very strong identity. A girlwho can kill it on the runway, on TV and in print,” Maggie emphasizes.
Kylie is just as keen. “I’m looking for someone who is in the now, very youthful. It’s high street. So someone who can do not only runway but commercials and be a personality. Right now, social media is in, so we’re looking for someone who has a strong personality and can be appealing to people. And someone with an X Factor.”
Image credits: Renjie Tolentino