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In English, it means life is beautiful and indeed it is. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to model for one of Paris’s well-known hairstylists Jean Marc Joubert in L’Oreal’s Colour Trophy 2008 Event held at the Crown Hotel Grand Ballroom last May 6. It was really a blissful experience. I felt like everything was just happening so fast, from the preparations in the L’Oreal building to the rehearsals in the ballroom, it was all so surreal. But when I went out that stage and walked that runway, time just stopped and all I could see were blinding lights and silhouettes of the audience staring right at me—a perfect movie scene feeling, I must say. It might sound so horrifying, doesn’t it? But I felt so free, like it was my turn to shine and strut my stuff down that runway. It was my first time to be given an opportunity to be styled by the great Jean Marc Joubert and be made up by Shu Uemura’s finest with Jun Escario’s rocking couture. It was simply a priceless experience.

That’s me walking down the runway! (Photo is taken by Mikhail Quijano.)

Of course, it’s not just all the glamor in modeling but the friendships I have gained as well. From the three days that my co-models and I have shared, I must say that we’ve learned so much from one another. Most are about modeling since I’m the newbie in the group but besides that, we have shared funny experiences in our life and they even know that I’m currently in Candy’s Council of Cool! I think I have bonded with them more than anyone could imagine people would be able to in three days. Everyone is just easy to get along with and is full of happiness inside them.

With my lovely co-models

I have some good, random realizations and feelings throughout this experience.
1. Being surrounded by people who don’t go below 5’7 in height is just a breath of fresh air. It actually feels wonderful! Finally, I feel small.
2. Who wouldn’t love the fact that we get free food all the time? Yummy! Heck no to Anorexia!
3. I love the fact that I could wear 3-inch heels and still feel small. It may seem so hard to the runway with those shoes but you’re wrong. The higher, the better!
4. Getting paid for a time to shine and strut my stuff in the runway for everyone to see is probably the best win-win situation for me… ever! Well, that would go second I guess because my COC experience is my no. 1!
5. Spending time with such beautiful people, I mean that literally and figuratively, makes me feel so beautiful as well! (The whole self-conscious thing doesn’t work for me, I guess.)

In just three days, I have learned so much and this experience will forever be embedded inside me. Maybe in the future, I will have other projects. This is, however, the start of something new.

Keep believing everyone!

xoxo,
Rubie