Alexis Yap
Lex in the city
WHEN I was a child I remember watching kids’ pageants on television. When they were asked what they wanted to be when they grow up, the common answers were being a doctor, a nurse, or a fireman because they wanted to help people. My answer was never any of those. Imagine me being a fireman? That’ll be the day. Even as a child I knew I wanted to be either an actor or a supermodel and one Saturday I got the chance to feel like a supermodel for one night.
Last September 16, SM Accessories invited VVIPs (Very, Very, Important People) to Radisson Blu for an evening that showcased the vast and utterly amazing fashion accessories collection of SM Department Store and I was one of the lucky few who got invited to walk the runway. At first it was nerve-wracking. But who was I kidding? Deep inside me I was dying to strut my stuff down the catwalk and do the pouty-lip action that models do.
I arrived just in time for rehearsals that same day. The blocking was simple and during rehearsals, I did a very simple walk. But in my head, of course, I was channelling Naomi Campbell in a Dolce and Gabbana, spring/summer collection fashion show in the late 90’s. I was closing the SM Accessories Fashion Show. And in the modelling world, opening or closing a show is a big deal. I knew I had to do something outrageous, something impressionable.
I then proceeded to hair and make-up. Since I had no hair, I was in and out of the prepping room in an instant. Hanging out at the backstage gave me mixed emotions. I had been in a fashion show once before. It was for the footwear brand FUSHU and most of us in that show were non-professional models. This time was different. There were almost 30 professional models and most of the other celebrity guests had a background in modelling. The line-up included Kat Ross, Anna Maris Igpit, Steph Senires, Izzara Ugarte, Mia Arcenas, and June Alegrado just to name a few. These girls were not only stunning and gorgeous, these girls were pros! Then I started to get nervous. I wish I had the body, complete with six-pack abs, so all I had to do was lift my shirt up at the end of the ramp and the audience would go wild. Unfortunately, I had lost the address to Citigym since January and frequented my home kitchen and Alejandro’s in times I needed a stress-buster. Oh yes, yours truly has put on more than a just a few pounds over the past months and what perfect timing to be in the fashion show!
Alas, it was show time! I don’t think there was a word ever invented to describe what I was feeling as I stood in line backstage to wait for my turn. My palms were sweaty,
I felt butterflies in my stomach, and my head was aimlessly looking for the nearest exit. But the closest one I found was the entrance to the runway, so there I went.
I did a quick pose as I entered the stage and all I could hear was screaming and clapping. It pumped up my adrenaline to the roof! As I walked down the flight of stairs to the main ramp, I felt every fat cell on my belly jiggling like excited little school girls. It was a good thing I was wearing sunglasses or the audience would have seen my eyes’ expression of uncertainty masked only by an ever-dependable smile. Yes, my nerves made me forget to do my pouty-lip-model action. I establish at the end of the runway and I freeze by the deafening sound of the audience’s reaction.
I took off my sunglasses and I couldn’t even make out a single face in the crowd! The three-sixty turn I practiced in private backstage was no more as I turned my back like a shy and dorky, non-model to head for the stage’s exit.
And so that was it - much ado for just a couple of minutes out on the runway. A couple of days before the fashion show we all had to go for styling. Then, there were the rehearsals, hair and make-up, anxiety, nerves, and incriminating pictures that go around the internet and haunt you forever! Haha! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed every bit of it and realized quite a few important things. One, being a model is not an easy job but I would do it in a heartbeat. Two, it is the audience that gives you energy. I prefer hearing the roaring crowd than hear the sound of deafening silence. And three, it’s time to say hello once again to my friends at Citigym and start eating healthy. I need to regain my once-perfect body (I wish!).
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the guys from SM Accessories for making me a part of such an amazing show. The experience I had was priceless. Thank you, Katsy Borromeo, for making my supermodel dream come true.
Here are today’s greetings:
Happy Birthday to:
Ramon Lucero, Edwin Ao (Today), DJ War Aballe (Sept 25), Paolo Canoy (Sept 26), Lyndon Naya, Gelo Abadia (Sept 28), Kaloy Uypangco (Oct 2), Eugene Calacat, Andrew Lim (Oct 3), Elaine Tupaz, Elena Young (Oct 6), Inah Sagun, Paul Gabatan (Oct 7).
Congratulations to the Joker’s Arms on their 2nd Anniversary. Check out the pictures from the celebration.
Conratulations to my cousin Nikka Gelbolingo for winning 1st runner-up in the High School Category of Himig Pinoy 2011 held at the USC Cultural Center last August 24, 2011.
Don’t forget:
Tonight! It’s Lust for House at the Penthouse, Your Party Cathedral!
The PiNK Party (The one and only LGBT party in Cebu) happening at Alejandro’s Filipino Resto on October 1, 2011! Call 253 7921 for table reservations.
Follow me on twitter for the upcoming events and exciting deals you don’t want to miss! @iamaroundtown