The Philippines came close to winning the top prize at the finals of the reality modelling competition “Asia’s Next Top Model” in Singapore on Sunday.
Philippine representative Stephanie Retuya finished first runner-up to the winner from Thailand, Jessica Amornkuldilok. Kate Ma of Taiwan was second runner-up.
Retuya, a 23-year-old neophyte model from Laguna, was considered the underdog in the finals after being in the bottom two five times throughout the season.
In a field of 13 models from across Asia, she made it to the final three even if she did not score a single best photo victory in any episode of the show.
For the finals, the three models shot a TV commercial for Canon, a cover shoot for Harper’s Bazaar magazine and a final runway show for Singaporean designer Frederick Lee.
The finals night was attended by former supermodel Tyra Banks, host and creator of “America’s Next Top Model”.
Retuya earned praise for her TV commercial for Canon and runway walk, but was found wanting in her pictorial for Harper’s Bazaar.
Banks had good words for the Filipina. “I thought your runway walk was spectacular. You have sass but you’re also very sweet. This is a model now although she is not modelling,” she said.
Banks, however, noted Retuya’s weak showing in the magazine shoot: “You were thinking strength but not giving strength.”
