SHE is what those in advertising and marketing circles call a “hot property”, someone very much in demand. Join Emily Jade Valero as she interviews a lass with a face that could launch a thousand ships, or in her case, a thousand commercials.

It’s hard to imagine her as “shy and self-conscious” seeing how she confidently and expertly projected to the cameras, but that’s how Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez was 10 years ago before her foray to the modeling world.

“Modeling was something that fell into may lap, that I grew to really, really love,” the 5’7’’ head turner, said.

Mikaela, 24, whose real name is Katrina Michelle, was discovered at 15 when she was photographed attending an event in a local teen magazine.

At 15, she attended her first VTR that led to her getting the lead cast for a Lifebuoy TV commercial.

This was soon followed by strings of endorsements like Kotex, Rexona, Panasonic, Rejoice, Ponds, 7-up and Sunsilk.

At 18, Mikaela conquered the rest of Asia appearing in different TV commercials and print ads in Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Indonesia.

“Modeling transformed me from being shy and self-conscious to being more confident and outgoing. I love modeling because it constantly improves me.”

Pushing herself to higher limits, aside from modeling, Mikaela adds motherhood (to Noelle, 5, and Tyler, 1), businesswoman, stylist, magazine owner and editor, to her long list of achievements.

These qualities and more made Loalde tap her to become the new face of their new campaign, Style Generation. Loalde is Mikaela’s first apparel endorsement.

“I love Loalde. I love every single piece of clothing I’ve tried. I love that their pieces are dressy and classy but very wearable. I love their unique designs,” she gushed.

Loalde, a Cebu homegrown brand, recently launched Style Generation to capture the young market and bring in new costumers.

The campaign launched clothes in new styles, modern cuts and in more colors.

Loalde’s new campaign fits Mikaela’s personal style to a tee. Mikaela said she’s always been a fan of comfortable and classic with a twist outfits. She loves wearing dressy tops with shorts, for example.

“Classic yet modern at the same time – that is the philosophy behind Style Generation, and Mikaela – with her classic look, youth and free spirit – best represents that,” said Loalde president Chris P. Aldeguer.

Mikaela just recently flew in from Manila during the launch of the new campaign.

“I love coming to Cebu. I’m happy and very honored to be endorsing a Cebu brand. I hope to help to push the brand,” she said.

And like the brand she is endorsing, always full of excitement and new things, Mikaela is not resting on her laurels either.

More recently, she is endorsing Loalde, Myra-E vitamins, Greenwich, Beverly Hills 6750 and My Diamond.

Aside from being very visible in TV commercials and print ads, Mikaela is taking workshops under ABS-CBN as she wants to try her hand in acting and hosting.

“I’ve said before that I don’t want to do acting but now I learned to never say never. I want to try everything, because life is too short,” she explained.