Monika Sta. Maria...she always pictures so beautifully
Monika Sta. Maria may not have won Asia’s Next Top Model Season 3 – and her runner-up status was really not much to crow about in terms of prizes and stuff – but she is reaping more work and projects now after the season-long appearance on the cable reality show on Star World. And I would like to think that the media mileage has immensely helped in landing a string of assignments left and right.
Just recently, Monika completed a fashion editorial shoot for the Summer Boho theme of Zalora Singapore (see photo grid below) where she was at her most polished in a catalogue-headed stint that will expand familiarity in the regional market.
Monika for Zalora Singapore : Summer Boho
In the shoot’s accompanying article, she was quoted as saying that “… I applied for ANTM the previous year and didn’t get a place. But by me not giving up I applied this year and got a place! My hard work paid off! I have learnt to always take charge and believe in what I want to do in life. Taking that first brave step could possibly take you on an insane journey that you would have never of dreamed of. That makes life worthwhile!”
Just keep on doing what you do best, Monika! The best has yet to come! 🙂
Who will follow Jessica of Season 1 and Sheena of Season 2?
Tonight is the night when Asia’s Next Top Model S3 will be finally known after months of weekly challenges and eliminations that left only three (3) contenders in the hunt for the victory. Only one among Ayu Gani of Indonesia, Monika Sta. Maria of the Philippines and Aimee Rose Cheng-Bradshaw of Singapore will have the honor of becoming this season’s top placer – the Asian model who will drive home a brand-new Subaru XV STI, become the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Singapore and land a contract with Storm Models of London. Spoilers have flooded the internet weeks before the finale. But then again, you will need to watch the show to find out if prior buzz is indeed true.
So tune in to Star World at 8:45PM to witness everything.
Barbara of Japan suffered the cruelest cut when she got eliminated right before the Season Finale next week
During Episode 12 of Asia’s Next Top Model S3, we finally learned that Barbara Akemi Katsuki of Japan was the last girl to be eliminated right before the final runway show of the Season Finale next Wednesday. It was a bittersweet end to her journey in the reality search as she went through a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows before finally mustering enough strength and confidence to bounce back and prove that experience still reigns in the modeling world. Sadly, she wasn’t meant to be part of the whole thing till the end.
Will Monika be it for Season 3?
We saw last Wednesday how the three (3) other girls – Monika, Gani and Aimee – excelled in their respective go-sees and Harper’s Bazaar photoshoots. They sealed their way to the top tier and insured that only one among them deserves to become Asia’s Next Top Model of Season 3.
Who will finally make it among them?
So who could really be the ultimate winner? Which among Monika, Gani and Aimee will get that midway cut during the final show like what happened to Season 2’s Katarina? Which two girls will really lord it over everyone else and make that one last sprint to win the brand-new Subaru XV STI, commercial endorsement as the face of TRESemme and the prized contract with London-based Storm Model Management?
Well, there’s only one way to find out! And it will all come to an explosive finale on June 17.
The Top 3 in the Harper's Bazaar cover shots and their respective sneak pics of the Final Runway Show next week
For now, here is a previously-unaired video of Asia’s Next Top Model S3 (for Close-Up Diamond Attraction) for your viewing pleasure.
Monika in a screenshot of her winning motion editorial for Subaru
Episode 10 of Asia’s Next Top Model S3 had the remaining five (5) contestants go through their first motion editorial for Subaru. And you need not guess who won that challenge. Monika was in her best elements (watch her segment in the video below) and did not disappoint the client. She went straight to Top 4.
courtesy of AsNTM
The Top 5 pose for the camera before becoming just a Top 4. Who will be eliminated next?
Will Amanda be the next to go?
But the more interesting part last week was the cliffhanger of an ending when the show was cut off (“To Be Continued“) just before host Georgina Wilson was about to announce who will be eliminated between Amanda and Barbara.
By now, you must have already a good feel on who got the boot. But are you really sure she’s the one?
Below is a teaser for Episode 11 of Asia’s Next Top Model where the fourth member of the quartet is nowhere to be seen (talk about extending the suspense).
courtesy of AsNTM
Watch Asia’s Next Top Model S3 on Star World tonight at 8:45PM. We’re so close to the finals that you simply can’t afford to miss this one. 😉
Amanda was suspended in the air for the photoshoot challenge. And got Best Photo in the process.
In Episode 9 of Asia’s Next Top Model S3, the remaining six ladies were brought to a gym where they met up with some Mixed Martial Artists who gave them a crash course on how to build up their core and strengthen their limbs. But this was just a prelude to their first challenge which required doing cool movements on a suspended steel ring which was initially tough for most. But after being told that the prize was a spa treatment at Sofitel So Sentosa, everyone started to become very competitive. Barbara and Aimee were really fueled to do well. But it was the Japanese who showed more strength and style. She won the reward and brought Gani along. The remaining girls did their own home spa activity at the models’ house which isolated Tahlia who is not chummy with the tight group of Monika, Aimee and Amanda.
For the main photoshoot challenge, Creative Director Alex Perry provided his long, flowy gowns tailor-made for a fantasy theme where each one of the contenders were put in harness and suspended in mid-air while doing their best to strike best poses for Jez Smith. Barbara and Monika did better than expected. Aimee played it safe, but still got good snaps. Indonesians Gani and Tahlia failed in their turns and disappointed the team. Surprisingly, Amanda saved her best for last, as she expertly moved in her red dress and totally impressed everyone, including a delightfully screaming Joey.
Amanda's Best Photo for Episode 9, her second so far.
The photo that got Tahlia eliminated
A sneak pic of Gani for Ep10
During the judging, host Georgina Wilson had Joey, Alex, Jez and Kenneth Goh in the panel. Gani and Tahlia got bottom two as expected. Amanda won Best Photo to her almost expected surprise because of the glowing feedbacks. Monika was named runner-up. Barbara was called next, before Aimee escaped the cellar positions. Tahlia got eliminated. Gani got a second lease in life.
The minute-video below shows the Top 5 with their respective pitches and catchlines to win the competition.
Creative Hairstyle Czar Lourd Ramos will be the National Style Director of Miss Republic of the Philippines
Creative Director and Hair Care Expert Lourd Ramos has entered into a partnership with Miss Republic of the Philippines Beauty Pageant. He will now be the National Style Director for the competition, and will, henceforth, become visible in all of its events. Recently, he was featured on Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 (both as a judge and hair care mentor) during the makeover episode of the popular reality model search. He also teamed up with Designer Francis Libiran for one of three segments during the successful TRESemmé Runway Ready Fashion Show held at Sofitel Manila.
Welcome to the Miss Republic of the Philippines family, Lourd! Your expertise will definitely help in bringing the pageant to greater heights of style and fashion. The candidates will be so lucky to have you in their midst. 😉
Lourd Ramos during the TRESemmé Runway Ready Fashion Show
Never before seen photos of Asia's Next Top Model S3 during the first few episodes
videos courtesy of AsNTM
How the ladies look like in between judging takes
In this post, I am sharing a bunch of never-before-seen photos taken during the filming of the early episodes of Asia’s Next Top Model Season 3. You’ll be particularly amused at how the ladies rest their tired feet (left photo) in between takes during the judging part.
I also decided to include two (2) BTS videos of the program which were taken for one of its main sponsors – Close-Up Diamond Attraction – where the competitors and mentors (Joey Mead King and Alex Perry) spoke about smiling in front of the camera and how it can be the best accessory of any aspiring model.
More never-before-seen photos from Episodes 1 and 2
And while we’re at it, here’s the teaser for Episode 10 where the remaining five (5) girls – Barbara, Monika, Amanda, Gani and Aimee – will get to do their first AsNTM TV commercials.
courtesy of AsNTM
We’re nearing the homestretch. The winner of Asia’s Next Top Model Season3 will be known in just a few weeks from now! 😉
Click above to watch all the unaired special vids of Asia’s Next Top Model S3.
Tahlia of Indonesia won Best Photo during Episode 8 of Asia’s Next Top Model Season 3
It was both a scare and a win for Tahlia of Indonesia during Episode 8 of Asia’s Next Top Model Season 3 when she had to undergo extensive check-up for lumps in her breast (which were mercifully benign) as well as performing well during the photoshoot en route to getting the week’s Best Photo. If you failed to watch, here’s the LINK.
The hair challenge during the 1st half of the episode saw our Monika being picked as winner and getting immunity from elimination. And while we had full confidence in her ability to lead the way once more, she almost actually got to use that immunity because her photo in motion did not impress the judges – particularly Australian photographer Jez Smith -so much that she only ranked 5th towards the end.
Monika’s photo which was seen as blah by the judges
KB of HK submitted the worst photo and was eliminated
Episode 9 will be quite physically challenging for all the remaining girls as they will be hoisted up in the air in harness and make their poses while floating more believable while wearing the fab creations of Alex Perry. The preview makes Gani look like the one in trouble, but I seriously doubt that she will go next.Here’s the teaser for Episode 9:
Tonight's Episode 8 of Asia's Next Top Model S3 will be all about hair, styles and trends.
The seven (7) remaining girls of AsNTM S3
While Episode 8 of Asia’s Next Top Model S3 scheduled to air tonight on Star World at 8:45PM will be all about hair, styles and trends for the seven (7) remaining ladies in contention, allow me to take a lookback at Episode 7 (here’s the LINK if you want to watch it) where our very own Monika restored her confidence and got the groove back just in time for the all-important Subaru Challenge which will choose the Ambassadress of the automotive brand for Asia. And as expected by most, she won the plum job and even had 2nd placer Barbara of Japan as another choice made by Subaru’s Glenn Tan.
Monika in her winning photo for the Subaru Challenge
2nd placer Barbara of Japan was also taken in by Subaru as Car Ambassadress
But more than the Subaru prize, what made the episode more juicy was the tiff that erupted between Monika and Gani of Indonesia. And the straw that broke the camel’s back so to speak began with the latter’s complaint about our bet’s poor housekeeping and kitchen habits. Let it be known that, while I support her all the way, I don’t agree and have never agreed to double dipping – be it a jar of yogurt or peanut butter.
It all snowballed from there with everything coming to a head when – after an ice-breaking confrontation on the dining table – Monika wanted to iron things out with Gani. But instead of talking things out, the latter exploded (with the ‘F’ word making a quick audio cameo once again) and flee the scene when the former attempted to make amends.
I’m pretty sure the controversy between the two will continue, camps will arise and the expected animosity between the two will be milked for all its worth. So better make sure that you watch tonight’s episode! Not just to await another Monika win (if any), but also to await the next chapter of her “fight” with Gani. 😉
In the meantime, watch the Episode 8 teaser below.
Only eight (8) remain in competition for Asia’s Next Top Model S3 (left to right): Monika, Amanda, Gani, Aimee, Melissa, Tahlia, Barbara and KB
Episode 6 of Asia’s Next Top Model Season 3 started to show signs of some good old reality TV drama finally creeping in. For starters, Monika of the Philippines got her confidence rattled after her best friend Franchesca was booted from the show. And then there is Barbara of Japan who is being hounded by a barrage of comments about her outdated poses and giving rise to her bout with age crisis. Best of all, Tahlia of Indonesia broke the ice of intrigue. After winning the styling challenge, she got an extra five (5) minutes of photoshoot time which was effectively chopped off from another competitor of her choice. Monika was her target and our bet was stressed even more. And this is just the tip of the iceberg, I reckon.
The styling challenge with Megh Mistry of Zalora
In the crucial judging, two of the previous strong performers – Monika and Barbara – found themselves dwelling in the bottom 2. To their relief, this was a non-elimination segment so they still managed to save their spots in the Top 8. Gani of Indonesia got Best Photo for the first time and was given the prize of becoming Zalora‘s image model for one of its upcoming campaigns.
Now about that intrigue in the models’ house, something is definitely brewing between Monika and the Indonesians. Tahlia keeps on saying that she chose the former to get the ‘minus-five-minutes’ handicap for reasons of being threatened by her strong performance for two consecutive weeks. But in the dying minutes of the episode, she explained that she doesn’t click well with the Filipina, hence, the decision to “target” her.
And if the post-show sneak peek of this week’s installment is any indication, Monika is shown to be at odds with Gani. The former was seen saying “…but you lied to me!” and the latter blurting out a remark which went like “…you know what? you’re just a fake!”
Here’s the official teaser (with the Monika/Gani tiff edited out):
Oooohhh. I am loving it! 😉
Watch the whole thing unravel tonight (plus an exciting Subaru challenge) at 8:45PM on Star World.
Jodilly and Natalie from Season 2 take the lead in the Subaru Challenge
P.S. Just in case you missed last week’s episode, here’s the LINK.
Hi! Norman here. When I'm not working, I spend most of my free time planning on daily blogs. If you will notice, I always make sure that a fresh topic comes out everyday - not an easy thing to do but it's all good. Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the visit!
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Monika Sta. Maria may not have won Asia’s Next Top Model Season 3 – and her runner-up status was really not much to crow about in terms of prizes and stuff – but she is reaping more work and projects now after the season-long appearance on the cable reality show on Star World. And I would like to think that the media mileage has immensely helped in landing a string of assignments left and right.
