Author Archives: paddylastinc

Kelsey Merritt becomes the first Filipina to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show!

Yasss! Filipino-American model Kelsey Merritt makes history today as she was finally revealed to be walking for the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this November!

Kelsey was rumored to join the past couple editions of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant but decided to pursue modeling in the US instead and it obviously paid off!

She is represented by Wilhelmina Models in London; Women Milano in Milan, Italy; Supreme Management in New York, and Nomad MGMT in Miami, Florida and Los Angeles, California.

ICYMI: Catriona Gray to walk for Sherri Hill

In a rather unprecedented event, Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray was invited and flown by Sherri Hill’s team in the US to walk for the designer’s show in the on-going New York Fashion Week.

Catriona Gray wearing Sherri Hill in the streets of New York. Photo from Facebook/ Bb Pilipinas

This news was first posted through Sherri Hill’s Instagram stories twice that was then confirmed by the Gray herself on her own Instagram.

Catriona will be competing in Bangkok on December 16 for the 2018 edition of the Miss Universe pageant and is touted to be one of the top contenders for the crown!

Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 6 Episode 3 Recap!

“I don’t want this competition to change me to someone I’m not” – Jesslyn.

So apparently, Jess is naturally evil. Lol. Kidding.

(Spoiler Alert!) I guess, I am just happy that she finally got the boot. Oops!

Bye Jess!

The episode this week was quick, fun and very interesting. The girls were in an Insta-race challenge where they would go to three assigned locations in Bangkok and each group will take Instagram-worthy photos with their Subaru car. Remember that Subaru will definitely have a say on who will eventually win this whole thing!!!

Thai rep Pim was paired with Vy and Jach and they did really well, it helps that Pim could easily asks the locals to help them. The group end up winning the challenge and had a fine dining dinner as their prize! Yasss! Slay that budget AsNTM! 😂

Another confrontation transpired with Jesslyn instigating it against Mia (yep, it’s Mia vs the Loud Girls Round 2) about being “human” and “friendship”. Really Jesslyn? I can see you all the way from where I was watching. It was just horrible. I am very disappointed with Jachin on how she took this situation. With Pim, she was the mastermind from last week’s Mia’s diary debacle so I’m not really surprised.

For the shoot this week, they have 2 props that may or may not overpower them – dogs and a Subaru car.

My favorite was Vy’s shoot. She was effortless and she looks absolutely divine during the shoot!

Struggling to get in the mood are Han, Beauty and Jesslyn. Sometimes, I feel that language barrier derails some of the girls.

At panel, the remaining girls looks absolutely wonderful. Can I just say, once and for all that Beauty is the most stunning model this cycle? I mean, that face is cosmetic brand-perfection!!!! She is indeed BEAUTIFUL!!!❤

Glenn Tan of Saburu is one of the judges and he adores Mia’s shot and gave her photo a perfect 10. Now, eat that Jesslyn! Hah!

Mia getting vindicated!

The ‘quiet girls’ pretty much had their vindication tonight with Mia and Vy getting the top 2 spots! Yay!!!

Dana and Jesslyn (3rd time in a row) found themselves in the bottom two and ultimately, the judges decided that Jess wasn’t cut for this competition! Yasss!!! So glad they got rid of the drama queen! Now the real competition begins!!!

Pim

Adela

Jachin

Vy

Dana failed to impressed!

Han

Rubini

Do you agree with the first call out: Mia and the eliminated contestant: Jesslyn this episode?

Photos courtesy of Asia’s Next Top Model Facebook Page.

Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 6 Episode 1 & Episode 2 Recap

Over the weekend, I was finally able to completely watch the first two episodes of the new season of Asia’s Next Top Model and so far, I am loving the models and the first two photoshoots.

There are initially fourteen girls vying for the title and two were promptly eliminated after their selfie-runway challenge. I really find that unfair, to be honest. They weren’t even given a chance to show what they’ve got!

It’s also interesting to note that the model mentors this cycle are three of the finalists in the earlier seasons of the show – Shikin and Minh Tu from Cycle 5 and Monika from Cycle 3! I’m not particularly convinced with these three but they would do. It looks like this one is going to be a very quick cycle.

The first episode requires them to posed with 3 kind of reptiles (an Iguana, a python and a baby crocodile). Some of them easily pulled it off while others are freaking out!

Beauty nailed this shot! Look at that face!!!

Most Favorite: Beauty, Jach, Mia
Least favorite: Adela, Jesslyn

Sharnie Fenn (Japan) got the lowest score in the challenge end up going home with her mediocre photo.

The second episode was the makeover episode. Nothing drastic for the girls. There’s the usual crybabies (me rolling my eyes at Adela’s pronouncement that she’s too cute with her hair).

The catfight also started brewing when Pim discovered Mia is keeping a diary with all of the contestants name in it. I liked Pim at first but what she did here was inexcusable. She’s actually the one who started the drama with Jesslyn and Mia. What a bitch.

Episode 2 photoshoot was shot in pair and I absolutely loved the black/white swan concept! I absolutely adore Jach’s and Mia’s photo! So far, I think they are my favorite!

Jach sitting like a kween!

Most Favorite: Jach
Least favorite: Jesslyn

Eliminated: Iko (Indonesia)

I think it’s safe to say at this point that they’re simply keeping Jesslyn for the drama. I hope she goes home next. Ta!

Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray for Star Style PH!

So what has 2018 Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray been up to lately?

via startyleph

Here, you can read a very interesting Ms. Gray discussing life after becoming the Miss Universe Philippines and her preparations for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant.

A bit of snippet from the interview conducted by Celina Bonga.

Now with four months left until the big day, the 24-year-old is heavily involved in the creative process that happens behind all the glitz and glamour. We learned that the show stopping ear cuff she wore on the crowning night of Binibining Pilipinas was actually her idea. Like a true queen, she has taken full control of her pageant preparations from choosing the team she works with to personally designing her gowns. She explains, “I really wanted to be involved. I told my team, ‘I hope you don’t mind me pitching in my ideas.’ I’m not saying that I have the best taste in the world, but let me share my ideas. I was crazy hands-on about it. I even had PowerPoints!”

Best of luck, Catriona!

Miss Universe August 2018 Hot Picks!

On December 17 (Bangkok Time), the most beautiful day in the Universe will be held at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

via Miss Universe Facebook page.

Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters will crown her successor for the Miss Universe crown. So without further ado, let me present to you my Top 15 for the month of August!

From Catriona’s Instagram

1. Philippines – Catriona Gray
Catriona’s main weapon heading to Bangkok this December is her gift of gab. She is without question one of the best communicators to ever represent the Philippines in Miss Universe. With her modelesque features, alluring beauty and her large fan base across the globe amassed after her 2016 Miss World stint, Catriona is definitely the one to beat at this point.

Tamaryn Green (mytvnews.co.za)

2. South Africa – Tamaryn Green
The pressure is on for Tamaryn this year and she’s expected to deliver after Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters mounted a campaign so strong last year that ended their 39-year Miss Universe title drought. Her background as a medical student would be an advantage for her to push a related advocacy. Her towering height and beautiful complexion will be hard to ignore, so there’s a high probability for her to come on top this edition of the pageant if she’s as strong-willed and as confident as Demi-Leigh.

Sarah Rose Summers (thegreatpageantcommunity.com)

3. United States – Sarah Rose Summers
Sarah Rose reminds me so much of Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo. They both have great and sunny personalities and it’s not hard to imagine her duplicating what Olivia did 6 years ago. Her beauty may not be as versatile but what she lacks in that aspect, she makes up with her larger-than-life personality. For now, she’s in a safe third place for me.

4. Canada – Marta Stepien
Marta is the beauty pageant contestant doppelgänger of Taylor Swift. She is one of the latest confirmed contestants having recently won her national pageant. She skyrocketed to the top 5 right away by here mere sex appeal alone and that’s says a lot about her. Marta may just duplicate her compatriot’s accomplishment in 2015 when Natalie Glebova took the title away from the Latina. Is Bangkok Canada’s lucky city?

5. Thailand – Sophida Kanchanarin
Sophida’s beauty is a polarizing one and she definitely has a big shoes to fill after Maria Poonlertlarp cracked the top 5 last year in Vegas. She may not be everyone’s cup of tea but for me, she’s a diamond in the rough. I’ve a feeling that she’ll shock everyone come pageant proper.

6. Venezuela – Sthefany Gutiérrez
Sthefany is the first contestant confirmed for this year’s pageant and like Sophida, she’s also got a lot to prove as her predecessor Keysi Sayago reached the final five last year. She’s been widely praised for her exotic beauty with her so-called ‘Pocahontas’ hair but I’m honestly still not convinced that she could duplicate or even surpassed Keysi’s feat last year. I still think though that she’s still one of the strongest candidates this year.

7. Ecuador – Virginia Limongi
If there is someone as polished as Catriona Gray, it would be Virginia Limongi. She reminds me so much of Sofia Vergara although she have to be careful because she tends to look old at times. I won’t put her this high but the hype around her is pretty convincing so for now, she definitely have her place on my hot picks.

8. Vietnam – H’Hen Niê
Vienam’s H’Hen Niê is definitely the Kaci Fennel of this edition. I’m not sure how well she would be received by the preliminary judges but given the right training and styling, I could see her going far in the competition.

9. Korea – Baek Ji-hyun
She’s one of the recent contestants to be confirmed and I am absolutely loving her. She’s giving me the Honey Lee vibe and if she continue to improve until December, I’m definitely seeing her usurping early favorites for the crown.

10. Brazil – Mayra Dias
I loved Mayra’s beauty because she reminds me of the Latina heavyweights of the early 2000’s. This may either be an advantage or a disadvantage for her depending on her styling come pageant season. She is definitely going to make it, beauty alone.

11. Australia – Francesca Hung
Chinese-Australian Francesca is a welcome change for an Aussie delegate in this edition. If you search online for her make-up less face, you’d see how gorgeous she is. She’s definitely going to be a hit in Thailand with her biracial beauty.

12. Japan – Yuumi Kato
I adore Yuumi Kato! I feel that she’s one of the strongest Asian delegates this year and if Japan will make it again into the Top 5, she should be able to make it happen.

13. Spain – Angela Ponce
I loved that she’s making history as the first transwoman to compete in Miss Universe but generally, I do not find her at par with the contestants I have on my top 10. Maybe they should change her styling? Or perhaps with less make-up? I mean, she is definitely going to be in the semis but how far do I think she can go? Uhm, for now – top 15 at the most.

14. Mexico – Andrea Toscano
Oh, I loved Andrea even though she look a bit pageant patty to me. Nothing wrong with that but I’d love for her to sport a pony or perhaps more extension. No to heavy make up and she’s good to go for the Evening Gown round.

15. Nicaragua – Adriana Paniagua
Adriana is a quality rep for Nicaragua. She looks a bit old at times but I feel that it’s only because of her styling. I also want to see her with straight hair and I think that would make her more ravishing.

Have you met Dario Yazbek Bernal? #JuliandelaMora

You might have heard of the new Netflix craze The House of Flowers (Originally, La Case de las Flores) released just a couple of weeks back and gaining tons of fans from across the globe as we speak. In it, you may also be one of the enamored viewers with the very adorable Julian de la Mora played by Dario Yazbek Bernal. If you’re like me who’s completely unaware of this guy before this series, I gathered some info about him that may very well interest you aside from the current stalking that you’re probably doing now. Hah!

Dario Yazbek Bernal was born in 1990 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. He is best known for his 2009 debut role Daniel y Ana, a film based on a true story about siblings kidnapped and forced to have sex with each other.

He is also the younger half-sibling of Mexican superstar Gael Garcia Bernal. He is the youngest amongst the three children of Mexican actress Patricia Bernal and Mexican cinematographer Sergio Yazbek.

Dario with older brother Gael Garcia Bernal. (photo by Ian Gavan)

His Vimeo profile says that he’s “working in film and music, MA in history and hating academia ever since. Currently living in a suitcase. Marriage material.”

He was also apparently in a band but this information would have to be confirmed.

So far, these are the only information I was able to gather online. Any additional information are very much welcomed. 🙂

Tell me about it, por favor!

Review: Netflix’s La Casa de Las Flores (The House of Flowers) Season 1

La Casa de Las Flores (The House of Flowers) is one of the latest original Netflix series offerings – a telenovela set in Mexico City which follows the lives of the de la Mora family members and their web of dramas that started when Roberta committed suicide by hanging herself inside the House of Flowers.

First, just who the heck is Roberta? At the pilot episode, it was revealed that she’s the mistress of the head of the family (Ernesto de la Mora played by Arturo Rios) whose lies he’d kept for years started catching up on him. The story is also conveniently narrated by Roberta herself, ala Desperate Housewives.

La Casa was marketed as a dramedy series with a twist. Yes, there are a lot of twists in it – mostly predictable twists. What it lacks, though in originality, it makes up for its charming cast and diverse characterizations.

There’s Virginia de la Mora (Verónica Castro) whose world turned upside down upon learning about the deceit of her husband and eldest daughter, her middle child’s black boyfriend and her youngest son’s homosexuality. It’s a full buffet for Virginia but as the ‘real’ patriarch of the de la Mora family, she’d make sure that no-one and nothing in the world would ever break them as a family.

Then there’s the eldest de la Mora sibling Paulina (Cecilia Suárez). Paulina cracks me up like no other with her accent. She’s the character that you’d either hate or love because she’s a total nutjob and a total badass too!

Elena (Aislinn Derbez), the middle child meanwhile came home to Mexico from taking her masters in New York to announce her engagement with her black boyfriend Dominique. Elena just seemed like the bimbo of the series until she found herself in a sticky situation with her almost half-brother Claudio (Lucas Velazquez). Claudio’s character creeps me out a bit, tbh.

And speaking of bimbo – we’ve the youngest, the unico hijo of the de la Mora familia cum fickle minded, bum-fuckboy but definitely super adorable Julian (Dario Yazbek Bernal). Julian is the sunshine of this series. He’s annoyingly charming and adorably frustrating. Add to the fact that he’s in the closet, has a sexual relationship with a girl and is in a secret relationship with their family’s financial advisor, Diego played by the tall, dark and handsome Juan Pablo Medina. Julian and Diego’s subplot seems to be winning the internet with their power couple good looks and Julian’s puppy-like persona in the series.

The show is definitely a step forward and a mostly unique subplot from the usual telenovelas we’re used to as the show embraces diversity like no other. It may sound a tad campy but it’s actually hella entertaining. Its humor isn’t slapstick nor subtle but it’s there glaring from each characters’ story arc. If you’re looking for something stress-free amidst the political mind-game online and on TV (who still watches TV?), then this show is definitely your best option.

Creator: Manolo Caro
Cast: Verónica Castro, Cecilia Suárez, Aislinn Derbez, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Sheryl Rubio, Paco León, Juan Pablo Medina, Arturo Ríos, Claudette Maille, Lucas Velazquez, Sawandi Wilson, Sofía Sisniega, Luis de la Rosa, David Ostrosky, Natasha Dupeyrón, Alexa de Landa

Film Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

Lara Jean played by Lana Condor wrote love letters to all the boys she ever had a crush on since childhood but kept them in a box until her younger sister , Kitty stole the letters and sent them to the boys she apparently “loved.”

I’ve read a few chapters of the book a couple of years back but never had the energy to finish it not because it’s bad but it was just not my cup of tea. Now, after watching its film adaptation, it made me want to go back to the book and reread its entirety.

I’ve tremendously enjoyed the film. First, I loved the casting of Lana Condor as its protagonist Lara Jean. She’s very relatable and has a really good screen charisma. I could still recall when I was reading the book’s first few chapters, I was imagining Cho Chang (Katy Leung) playing Lara Jean. Lana was such a good choice for the role paired with Noah Centineo‘s super charming appeal. I so loved their chemistry!

Although Lara Jean’s character isn’t as dynamic as I expected her to be, I loved the subtle discovery of herself over the course of the film. As an aging millennial, I could easily relate to what she’s gone through what with her unrequited love and teenage longings.

The film may be full of clichés but it’s the good kind of clichés. It’s a movie targeted for the young ones if I may say but if you’re like me, you’d get a nice throwback feeling watching it.

Based on the novel of the same name by Jenny Han
Director: Susan Johnson
Cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Israel Broussard, Trezzo Mahoro, King Bach, Joey Pachecho, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, John Corbett, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac

Rating: 3/5

You can also read the book:

The ‘World’ Invasion of Katarina Rodriguez!

Katarina Rodriguez first gained popularity as a contestant in the second season of Asia’s Next Top Model in 2014 where she finished third next to fellow Filipina contestants Jodilly Pendre and eventual winner Sheena Liam of Malaysia.

Fast forward to 2017, Katarina joined the Binibining Pilipinas – the premiere beauty pageant in the country and easily became one of the contenders for the top plum – the Miss Universe Philippines. She still emerged victorious but as our representative for Miss Intercontinental 2017.

At the Miss Intercontinental 2017 edition held earlier this year in Egypt, she was touted to easily pick up our first title from said pageant but the stars are not in our favor as she settled for a runner-up finish next to Veronica Salas of Mexico. There was a bit of an outrage but like the true queen she is, Katarina easily pacified her fans with a very heartfelt post about her experience in Egypt.

from Katarina’s Instagram

Earlier this week, the screening of the Miss World Philippines 2018 was held in Manila and unsurprisingly, Katarina showed up as she’s been hinting for months that she’s still open to joining other pageants this year. This feisty model is now embarking on her journey towards the Blue Crown but it won’t be an easy one as she has to beat 39 other candidates first in order to set foot in China this December for the 2018 Miss World pageant.

via Katja’s Twitter

What are Katarina’s chances in finally snagging the top title this year? I adore this girl! I loved her fighting spirit and her positive disposition kahit mukha daw siyang maldita. Hahaha! I loved how she could easily socialize with everyone and I think that’d be one of her advantages in the national pageant and if the stars will align in her favor – hopefully towards her road to bring back the blue crown to the country!

Good luck Katja! Get it!