Katarina Rodriguez hopes to take supermodel aspirations to next level

One month after her 2nd runner-up finish in season 2 of “Asia’s Next Top Model,” Katarina Rodriguez still feels like the show’s big winner.

Following the competition, the 21-year-old mestiza charmer — along with “AsNTM” winner Sheena Liam of Malaysia and compatriot and fellow finalist Jodilly Pendre — visited Indonesia. And just like Christian Bautista and acoustic singer-songwriter Sabrina, she was warmly received over there.

“I have somebody who is representing me in Indonesia. I have a very big fan base there because I am their market,” she told InterAksyon during the recent cover shoot for the latest issue of Animo, a lifestyle magazine featuring prominent students and alumni of De La Salle University. The issue hits newsstands this week.

Katarina said she has other fans living overseas which is why she also started a video blog on her YouTube channel called “#KeepingUpWithKatarina” to stay in touch with them.

“I’m trying to establish myself here and in Indonesia at the same time. I would also like to try Malaysia and Hong Kong but I’d like to be successful in all Asian countries,” she added.

Together with Jodilly who she now considers her best friend, Katarina also hopes to further pursue her modeling career in London which they are scheduled to visit this year.

“What I do after ‘Asia’s Next Top Model’ is what will set me apart from the winner. I am pursuing modeling because I was given this opportunity that thousands of other applicants wanted,” she boldly declared.

If Katarina sounds like she’s not lacking in confidence, it’s because she has every reason to be full of it, especially after her experience on the show.

“I had very limited modelling experience when I joined ‘Asia’s Next Top Model’ but I still made it to the competition. Even when I got in, I almost got eliminated from the very first episode so I had to work very hard to make it as far as I did,” she recalled.

And no, she did not always consider herself as beautiful.

“I was actually a wallflower for a while when I was studying in the States. I didn’t have any boyfriends but I did become homecoming queen.”

On “AsNTM”, Katarina had the distinction of being the only contestant criticized by the judges for, believe it or not, being too pretty.

“It’s the worst criticism I got from the judges. When they told me ‘I’m too pretty’, I would just smile and say thank you and then they’ll tell me it’s not supposed to be a compliment. During the finale, I was really flattered to be compared to Elizabeth Taylor who was not only beautiful but also a legendary international icon,” she exclaimed.

With her striking features, it’s also natural to assume that Katarina has a very happy lovelife. Surprisingly, she is single at the moment after she broke up with her last boyfriend during her “AsNTM” stint.

Dennis Trillo has been reported to take a fancy at Katarina. The popular actor even went as far as to campaign for her victory through social media. Told about this during the viewing party of the “AsNTM” finale, Katarina said she appreciated the gesture but made it clear that she was not interested in getting into a new relationship at the moment.

Aside from aspiring to be a world-class supermodel, the Lia-Com major said she is still an active and very much competitive member of the DLSU Track and Field team.

“So I really don’t have the time to date right now. But who I date will certainly be an investment as I won’t go out with him just for fun. I don’t think I’d date a model or an actor, that’s not my thing,” she declared.

If she’s not into models and actors, what exactly would she be looking for in a guy?

“I think there are lots of things I would have to consider. It doesn’t matter how much money a guy has or what a guy’s status in society is, I wasn’t raised that way. For me, the things that do matter are: Can he support himself? He has to have good intentions, good morals and good values,” she wondered.

“Passion is also a big thing, so is ambition, determination. I saw those qualities in my grandfather, in my uncles, my dad, in my younger brother. Someday, I’d like to marry someone who’s like my grandfather or who’s like my dad. They would be the perfect example of an ideal guy.”

source: interaksyon.com

Supermodel, billionaire settle child-support dispute

NEW YORK – Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista and French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault reached a child-support settlement on Monday following two days of tense, often personal court testimony last week in Manhattan.

Lawyers for both parties declined to disclose the settlement. A lawyer for Evangelista called media reports that she sought $46,000 a month as a misunderstanding, but acknowledged she was seeking a “substantial” sum to raise their 5-year-old son.

Both parties agreed to return to court on Tuesday to finalize the agreement.

“Everybody’s glad, for the sake of the child, that it’s done,” David Aronson, attorney for Pinault, told reporters outside of court.

The model and Pinault walked out of the courtroom together, whispering. The scene was a stark contrast to last week’s trial, when Evangelista barely acknowledged Pinault and shot him icy glances during opening arguments.

Evangelista, 46, and Pinault, 49, had been embroiled in a contentious child-support trial over their son Augustin, conceived during a brief liaison in late 2005.

Pinault testified to ending the relationship after learning Evangelista was pregnant in early 2006. He denied a charge he had asked her to terminate the pregnancy.

Augustin was born in October 2006. Within a year, Pinault would father a child by actress Salma Hayek, named Valentina. Hayek and Pinault married in 2009 in Paris, on Valentine’s Day.

Pinault is chief executive of PPR, a multinational firm that owns luxury brands including Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. He is worth about $3 billion, according to Aronson.

Last week, Evangelista’s attorney, William Beslow, grilled Pinault over his finances, the amount he spends on his other children and about the gifts he’d given Augustin. Beslow had argued Augustin was entitled to financial support on par with Valentina.

Pinault acknowledged he had put his $12 million Los Angeles home in a trust for Valentina to “reassure” Hayek that she and their child would be taken care of should anything happen to Pinault or to their relationship. Pinault fathered two children by a previous wife before meeting Evangelista.

Last week’s courtroom drama included a series of contentious exchanges, including Pinault’s acknowledgements that he “didn’t even know (Evangelista) very well” when she became pregnant. Evangelista also gave a detailed account of her rise from a 50-cent-a-basket cherry picker in her Canadian hometown near Niagara Falls to one of the most photographed faces in the world.

source: interaksyon.com

After Tyra Banks, is Jessica Sanchez next for Rajo Laurel?

MANILA, Philippines – Rajo Laurel is taking more leaps in his career as he embarks on a “personal quest” of dressing up Filipino-Mexican “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sanchez.

The esteemed designer has flown to Los Angeles, California, and brought with him some of his creations that he hopes Jessica could wear on the show.

“Kung madamitan ko siya, eh di siyempre tuwang-tuwa ako. But it’s a personal quest,” he said in a taped interview on “Showbiz Central,” April 29.

Rajo is a self-confessed fan of 16-year-old Jessica, and believes she’s “an amazing singer.”

He earlier declared his dream of dressing her up via Twitter. His call did not go unnoticed as Jessica herself and Soyon An, “American Idol” design consultant and stylist, have responded to his tweets.

“I like the collection. Direct message me. I also like your men's collection! X,” Soyon tweeted.

Meanwhile, Jessica, in a previous interview with “Balitang America,” likewise expressed interest over Rajo’s collections.

“I haven’t really gotten the time to really, really check out his stuff. But what I’ve seen is really good so he would just have to talk to our stylist. We’ll see what happens,” said the San Diego, California native.

Rajo is apparently more inspired to take bigger strides, given that a handful of Filipino designers have already earned their respective niches abroad.

“To my designer friends who are ahead of me in dressing up celebrities, thank you for paving the way. Umpisa na ‘to eh. Nandiyan na tayo, buksan na natin ‘yung pinto… Tibangin na natin ‘yung pintong ‘yan. Pakilala na natin sa buong mundo ang talento ng Filipino fashion designers. Ika nga ‘di ba, sabi ko, it’s not only more fun in the Philippines, now, it is more fashionable,” he enthused.

Two weeks ago, Rajo made the headlines after supermodel-TV host Tyra Banks donned his dress, a piece from his 2008 “Insect” collection, in an episode of US reality show, “America’s Next Top Model.”

An honored Rajo professed his gratitude to his cousin, Michael Carandang, who happens to be a producer on “ANTM,” for encouraging him to send his creations to Tyra.

He also tweeted on April 23, “Believe that w each day we get closer in attaining our dreams! Move forward, if you fall pick urslf up and push even harder!”

source: mb.com.ph