Charlene Almarvez can go as fun and free-spirited (for Seventeen Magazine) to editorially edgy (for Bonbon Magazine) to mesmerizingly mysterious (for Genlux Magazine) all the way to being shabby sexy (for Circus by Sam Edelman). And these are just the latest outputs from this very successful Filipina Supermodel whose excellent portfolio of works must have already been assembled many times over. She may have only landed 1st Runner-Up during the Ford Supermodel of the World finals in SaoPaulo, Brazil last 2010, but she is the perfect example of someone who took the modeling profession to heart, learned from the experts, paid her dues in the biz and is now harvesting all the fruits of her hardwork.

I chatted with popular Fashion Show Director Cata Figueroa, Jr. who gave me the following thoughts and recollections about Charlene:

“i discovered charlene almarvez in sta cruz, laguna during sa santacruzan designers’ competition. she was only 15 then and had a 5′ 9″ height. more than the height, it was her dusky filipina features that struck me most…i gave her my card & told her to call me up after a month. that is usually the time that i ask my discoveries to ponder & really decide if they want to pursue modelling…

i brought her to the go-see of philippine fashion week but did not tell joey espino, event producer & owner of the supermodel philippines franchise, that she’s my discovery. when joey saw her, he asked me who the girl was. charlene’s potentials was also spotted right then & there…
she did shows in philippine fashion week & joined supermodel of the world philippines. the rest is history. she went on to win 1st runner up in the supermodel of the world held in sao paulo, brazil in january 2010.”

“one thing w/ charlene, despite being in new york for the last 5 years, she hasn’t lost her provincial innocence. she’s still the same girl that i discovered in laguna. she’s very unassuming & still maintains her values…

one thing is sure…she wants a filipino to be her lifetime partner despite the many good-looking guys in new york.”

About Charlene’s success in New York, this is what Direk Cata had to say:

“the asian look will still be in for the next 20 years or so. her exotic looks, long legs, good attitude & professionalism are the things that make her click in new york.

more than her shows in new york, i’m also proud that she has done shows in london fashion week & has 4 brand campaigns in her sleeves.

she hasn’t been vacationing of late ‘coz of work & she’s not complaining.”

All I can say is, ‘Keep up the good work, Charlene!‘

Below is a 30-second video of the motion editorial she did with two other models for Circus by Sam Edelman.

courtesy of Charlene Almarvez