Body Talk with Charo Ronquillo

She’s known as The Asian Kate Moss for a very obvious reason — Charo Ronquillo, 21, is a deadringer for the supermodel once linked to such Hollywood actors as Johnny Depp (now living with another model, a French girl).

Winner of the 2005 Supermodel Philippines search, the Cabuyao, Laguna, native flew in from New York where she has been based these past three years purposely for the Philippine Fashion Week at the Mall of Asia (MOA) on May 26 to June 2. Her years as an international model hasn’t affected Charo who has remained a probinsyana at heart, undaunted by the demanding Big Apple lifestyle and the “ramp” competitiveness which pits her with other taller models from around the world.

At 17, after beating nine other finalists in the Philippine edition of the search, Charo finished third (from a batch of 39 girls) to the bets from Belarus (winner) and Canada (second) in the 2006 Supermodel of the World finals, pocketing $100,000 and a three-year contract from Ford Models which launched her as the first-ever supermodel figure from the Far East in the agency’s 25-year supermodel-search’s history.

“It’s a childhood dream come true,” said Charo, shy and soft-spoken as ever.

Charo was 12 when Faze Model Management owner Elmer Torralba spotted her shooting hoops at a Robinsons Mall arcade in Cabuyao. She joined modeling contests, showed up for castings and VTRs until she was tapped to compete in the 2005 Supermodel Philippines search.

Following in the footsteps of such international Filipina models as Anna Bayle (retired, based in New York as a single mom, separated from her Swedish husband) and Bessie Badilla (now a widow, based in Connecticut), whom she has yet to meet, Charo had her debut in New York fashion shows in Feb. 2006. The next year, she decided to work at the Big Apple full-time, learning to live alone.

“It was my first trip abroad,” said Charo. “It has been a learning experience since then.”

Thus far, she has graced not only the ramps in New York and Canada but also such glossies as Spanish Vogue, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire (Paris and US), Glamour, Glitter (a Japanese magazine), Neon (German), Savvy Magazine, Seventeen and Cosmo Girl (Asian/American magazine). Two of her most memorable assignments were with photographers Bruce Weber and Chin Walter, who are among the best in their rank.

A Taurian (April 22, 1988), Charo stands 5’9”, weighs 115 lbs., measures 32-24-34, and wears small/medium shirt and size-9 shoes.

Is it hard to maintain a model’s body?

“Not really. Diet lang at workout.”

What kind of diet do you follow?

“Simple lang. I eat three square meals a day but in small portions. For breakfast, I take oatmeal with banana and coffee. For lunch, salads with chicken (minus the skin) and for dinner, more salads and soup. I do eat meat but not much. My diet consists mostly of vegetables and fiber.”

For snacks?

“Konting sandwiches which I myself make. In New York, I don’t buy food sa labas, kasi nakakataba. I eat chocolates and ice-cream but not too much.”

What vitamins do you take?

“Vitamin E and calcium. I still drink milk up to now.”

How much water do you take per day?

“Eight to 10 glasses.”

Soda?

“Seldom; once a week at most.”

What workout do you do?

“I go to the gym three or four times a week and do cardio exercises. Walking in New York is a good enough exercise.”

What part of your body still needs improvement?

“As it is, I’m happy with my body.”

What part is most vulnerable?

“My skin. When I get rashes, they take time to heal.”

How do you take care of your skin?

“Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. I also apply insect repellant.”

What part of your body is your favorite?

“My smile. It’s part of the body naman, di ba? And my complexion. They like it in New York. They say that my skin glows.”

What part of a guy’s body do you look at first?

“The face, specifically the cheekbones.”

What else do you like in a guy?

“His personality, dapat pleasing.”

And what turns you off in a guy?

“‘Yung mayabang.”

How much sleep do you get per night?

“Six to eight hours. I take naps during trips.”

What’s your favorite sleep wear?

“Wala! Hahahaha!”

You mean, you sleep in the nude?

“Joke only! I wear a tank top and underwear.”

Are you a pillow person?

“I sleep with four pillows. One under my head, one under my back, one on my side and the fourth one I hug.”

Do you snore?

“No, I don’t.”

Do you talk in your sleep?

“I do...daw. Hahahaha.”

Do you sleepwalk?

“Thank God, I don’t.”

What’s the last thing that you do before you go to sleep?

“I pray.”

And the first thing that you do when you wake up?

“I pray again.”

How do you cope with stress? New York life is very stressful.

“I do yoga. I meditate. I go to the St. Patrick’s Cathedral every day. I get a massage once a week. I listen to music and hang out with friends.”

How’s your nightlife?

“Nightlife in New York is exciting. Magsasawa ka. But I don’t go out that much.”

And your love life?

“Ngayon? Wala, eh! Ang focus ko talaga ay sa career ko.”

Name three women you think have nice bodies.

“Gisele Bundchen, Gemma Ward and Raquel Zimmerman. All models.”

And three men...

“Brad Pitt. Brad Kroenige (a Ford model). Just the two of them.”

Using only body language, how would you make a guy know that you admire him?

“I simply look at him. If he looks at me, I pretend to look away.”

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