Statuesque mestiza Jasmine Maierhofer aspires to become one of the country’s top models. At 16, she is on her way to realizing this dream. Recently, she flew to Turkey to attend the Best Model Competition, a European-based modeling search. Jasmine shares of her recent trip, “I was able to travel alone. I enjoyed my independence and gained a lot of experience.” She adds that the pageant — where she competed against stunning girls from different countries and at the same time made friends with them — is one of the most memorable events in her young and promising career. In the end, Jasmine bested some 50 contestants to become the model search’s first runner-up.
“Representing the Philippines meant I had to do my best. Most of the contestants are European so I found myself in the midst of very tall models,” narrates the half-Austrian, half-Filipino model, who at 5’11” admits she felt intimidated at first when she met her fellow contestants.
“I have always been interested in the industry,” says Jasmine of her zeal for modeling. She has a long list of modeling stints in her impressive portfolio — whether it be ramp, print or fashion editorials. This includes strutting the catwalk for shows like the Philippine Fashion Week, Fashion Design Council of the Philippines and collections of renowned designers Monique Lhuillier and Inno Sotto. Her pretty face and svelte figure are also all over the pages of various magazines’ and newspapers’ fashion spreads.
“I see modeling as a means of developing my self-confidence, personality and uniqueness,” she says. Her mother, resort owner Elenita Maierhofer, taught her to be passionate in what she does and to always seek guidance from God. Meanwhile, respecting the people she works with is a value her dad, businessman Peter Paul Maierhofer, imparted to her.
As a child, Jasmine dreamt of traveling to different countries. But she’s attained more than that at a young age. With a lot of modeling opportunities ahead of her, this striking girl is surely to go places and be the Philippines’ next top model. — Jerni May H. Camposano