Young and beautiful

CEBU, Philippines - I was just inspired to hear Lana Del Ray in the background singing her hit song from the "Great Gatsby" soundtrack, while ging through photos of up-and-coming teenage models, which photographer Ariel Aying Salupan had sent me by email. I got driven to write.

The models were pretty and promising. They really were young and beautiful. Xavi and Kaye were the newest addition to the lineup of models at AD Models Management, discovered in summer this year.

The two young models bear unmistakable mixed-race features, with fair skin and a kind of aura that lures the camera. For sure both of them are going to be more visible in print and on the runway soon. They are brimming with charm and innocence, and modeling is more of a pastime than a career, as they are both still in high school.

Xavi is into sports; he plays football. As an athlete, his priorities are school and football; the go-sees and casting sessions he only does if there is extra time. Kaye, on the other hand, makes time for juggling school and fashion, alongside joining in beauty pageants. As a student, she very well knows her limits and priorities.

I recalled - with a sense of nostalgia - two stunning Cebuano 'supermodels' who started out with exactly the same personas as Xavi and Kaye. Joe Vince Canizares and Verns Buckley were exposed to Cebu and Manila modeling circuits at a very young age. Later on they rose to international modeling circles around Asia, Europe and the US.

Vince and Verns are such an inspiration to our modeling agency, and we were since looking for homegrown models to follow in their footsteps. We want to move forward in our tradition of discovering a new breed of demigods and goddesses.  Our vision is to put Cebu in the map of the global modeling arena.

Wherever the fashion and pageant winds take newcomers Xavi and Kaye in the near future, we look forward for the best. Recently, Xavi and Kaye modeled trendy youthful off-campus fashion to help make the semestral break in style. The outfits obviously work to let their individuality come out.