Nicole Thorp

MANILA, Philippines - Nicole Anne Aurora Go Thorp sees beauty and finds happiness in simple, everyday joys. “Being around those whom I truly love, complete family lunches and getting to spend time with my friends make me happy.”

Eighteen-year-old Nicole, daughter of British businessman Jonathan Dean Thorp and entrepreneur Catherine “Rina” Silayan-Go (Rina runs Nic’s Bakeshop, which is named after Nicole), admits that growing up wasn’t difficult even after her parents separated. “I was around two when my parents separated. They made it a point to make sure I had a happy childhood. It never really bothered me and I think it helped me become even more independent and stronger than most of my peers,” says Nicole.

“I learned from my dad to know my priorities, do the best in life but always remember to live it and enjoy the ride as well. And I learned from mom to ‘always think of the future because you can’t depend on anyone but yourself. It is always important to have your own money for rainy days’.”

Creating special memories with people close to her heart gives her a clear perspective of what treasures are worth keeping. She credits her being a loving and well-rounded person to the environment she grew up in with her mom and grandparents. They would allow her to try different activities as a child — ballet, piano, softball and ice-skating. As a result of being exposed to these activities, her interest in dancing blossomed and she eventually became the captain of the Assumption College Dance Troupe when she was in high school.

Nicole says this was a most fulfilling responsibility and it taught her how to be a good leader. “Nothing worth having comes easy and bad situations can only turn around based on how you act upon them,” believes Nicole.

An AB Communication student at the Ateneo de Manila University, Nicole looks forward to being part of media someday. “Be it in public relations, marketing, advertising, being involved in a magazine or a newspaper,” says Nicole.

She also thinks the prospect of living in New York someday is exciting, an experience she will learn a lot from.

She embraces life by moving forward, because for her, life eventually gets better. “Life is just so great and full of promise that we can’t just waste too much of it dwelling on the ‘what ifs’ of the past in general. Mistakes can be corrected and if not, then we move on and continue to live because life goes on,” Nicole concludes.

Photography by Mau Aguasin â€¢ Styling byMikka Velasquez â€¢ Makeup by Ria Aquino for MAC Cosmetics â€¢ Hairstyling by Patty Inojales â€¢ Pastel blue draped dress and green dress by Tango; white rhinestones and diamond teardrop earrings and rose-colored diamond teardrop earrings by Kikay