The Big 5
Walking the biggest fashion shows, working with the best creatives, wearing the most fabulous gowns even before they hit the runways, traveling the world, and meeting people who live and breathe the sartorial glamor in its most brazen state—the models of the ’80s and ’90s were so fantastical they sounded like myths.
In those pre-social media days, a young person’s dreams were seen on pages of magazines or newspapers, or on catwalk shows, which were barely televised. For a mere observer, that modeling world was ethereal. And the faces that carried those magnificent clothes and represented ideas were deemed majestic and almost unreachable.
Fortunately, as the world evolved, these faces found their voice and the platforms through which they were able to share their vision and their thoughts. Through the years, people have started to realize that the models, especially the greats, are not just mere “hangers” or “mannequins”; they are creatives and collaborators who are helping change an entire industry. They are actresses and actors who convey feelings and concepts. The originals summoned the truth that modeling is a profession, which requires discipline and a lot of hard work, and that it is part of an industry that could help society flourish if given the right direction.
In the Philippines, those laurels belong to a few, but no image remains more ingrained than the original greats: Apples Aberin, Marina Benipayo, Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez, Myrza Sison, and Rissa Mananquil Trillo.
THE CITY WAS THEIR RUNWAY
Being a model is like a calling: some
