STAR Dream Girl: Lou Angeline Yao

Seventeen-year-old Lou Angeline Yao doesn’t want to go with the flow. In fact when she shops, she asks the saleslady about the least saleable items. "I want to be unique. I want to have an identity," she begins.

The second child of businessman Robert Yao and the former Helen Go, Lou is a sophomore AB Production Design student at the DLSU-College of St. Benilde. "Ever since I was a kid, I have always pretended to be a designer. And I must admit, I really hate math," explains the 5’5"-tall Lou, who had her taste of rejection at the young age of 12 when a supermodel search closed its door on her. Windows, however, opened up when CalCarries, a modeling agency, signed her up. Before she knew it, she was modeling for various fashion editorials. Lou, who is of Chinese and Spanish descent, singles out Tyra Banks as her fashion icon.

"I feel most beautiful when I am happy," gushes Lou. Happy days for her are equated with hanging out with friends and enjoying her favorite and only sport, horseback riding. "I feel a sense of fulfillment when the horse follows my instructions. Not everyone can do that."

A beach and nature lover, Lou has an overwhelming collection of flip-flops, something that won’t go missing in her get-up. "I love flip-flops, they’re so comfortable. I have a wide collection and my mom’s already freaking out," shares Lou, who considers her flawless skin her best asset. Achieving a beautiful figure is no problem to her as she can indulge in anything she wants without getting that extra weight.

"I believe one should live a day like it is one’s last. I also believe that everything happens for a reason," she philosophizes. "My family believes in feng shui. I think otherwise. I think, though, there is no harm in trying."

To her, a STAR Dream Girl is someone who is true to herself as well as to the people around her. – JERNI MAY H. CAMPOSANO