A Chat with a Top Model: Chesca Lagua

Benefit and Mommievents recently paired up and created a workshop called The Ultimate Guide to Being a Benefit Babe at the dainty Benefit store in Alabang Town Center. Franchesca Lagua is one of the event ambassadors alongside DJ Sexy Megan from Yes FM. Chesca graced us with her top model presence and with an extra helping of sky high legs and ultra lean figure from Shanna Retuya (ramp/commercial/Philippine Fashion week model). 

Although the pair towered all of us, they were the most down-to-earth darlings. They were up for selfies and quick chats with participants. I took the opportunity to take a selfie with Chesca which would seemingly look like Lady Galadriel and a hobbit would photograph together. She hunched halfway as I tiptoed, tilted and angled my phone so both of us can fit into the frame.

Before I transform this feature into some LOTR geekery, here's the score on Chesca's make-up go-to and the real deal on Asia's Next Top Model:

Dish # 1 - Brows before bros

I asked which kind of make up that she can't leave home without? Is she a lippie girl, eyebrows on fleek kinda gal or no make-up? She said she really can't leave home without doing her brows. She added that she did her brows for that day at the event. I actually checked out her brows and I can tell you the woman has legit skills! Eyebrows on fleek, indeed. 

She shared that she has thin and short brows and I couldn't believe it because it seemed like she has full brows. She re-counted her experience with Asia's Next Top Model's make over. It was that time when the make over entailed her to change her hair color including her brows. They had to bleach her eyebrows despite her attempts to explain that she has thin eyebrows and from then on, her brow hairs did not grow back. The team also thought she has full brows because of her mad brow skills. 

She also complimented my brows (heart! heart!) and that we both raved about the Benefit Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil which we both used for the event. I knew we're brow sisters! 

Dish # 2 - Chesca is a Certified Bene-Babe

We were both gushing about the Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil and how Pore-fessional kit is actually the Make-Up God's gift to women! You'd be surprised to know that Chesca has oily skin and still struggles with breakouts. It has been a struggle for her to find her perfect match until Pore-fessional came in. 

Benefit has the seal of approval from a Supermodel like Chesca and a Supermom like me (ehem! no nanny!). *wink*

Watch her Pore-fessional unboxing video here.

Dish # 3 - AsNTM challenges - The struggles are real

If people think that posing for the camera is very easy then think again! It is knowing your angles, the lighting, knowing your body, listening to instructions and artistically translating it to the photo... and so much more. I was upfront about being a fan of the show since her cycle and I try to keep myself updated (I usually wait for the Star World re-runs and binge-watch all day). 

I was curious to ask about the frequency of the shoots. She revealed that the challenges are almost 2-3 days apart since they have to do the challenges then shoot their thoughts/emotions of the day (on the same day) even if it's 1AM, followed by another shoot for the elimination round the next day. Those are just shooting schedules. That's discounting the fact that they have physical and emotional stress doing all the modelling, having photoshoots, travelling to venues and dealing with the other models/people, missing home, pressure to perform, etc. Chesca recalled that she was really wound up with the entire ordeal that she had many pimple breakouts which adds to her struggles of being there. 

Dish # 4 - Friendliest AsNTM Cycle 3 contestant 

Without batting an eyelash, Chesca answered Barbara from Japan. She says she's the nicest of them all. :)  She's also my favorite in that season.

Dish # 5 - How's Georgina Wilson? 

I just had to ask about Georgina and how she was in person at that time. Chesca said that Georgina barely spent time with any contestants unless it was onscreen due to her position in the show as a host. She was not allowed to mingle with the contestants especially with the ones from our country to maintain integrity and fairness. Chesca also mentioned that Georgina had to approach her and the other contestants to apologize for not really talking to them so much due to that rule from the show. Chesca said she spent more time with Joey Mead-King since she was the model mentor back then. 

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There you have it. I wanted to chat some more but I also needed to cover the rest of the Benefit workshop. Talking to Chesca was like a breath of fresh air---very laid back. Probably because of her south roots, south girls are just truly cool to hang out with.

***Disclaimer: All photos and information above had been posted with permission from Franchesca Lagua***