Isabel Roces: Chameleon calling
March 4, 2007 | 12:00am
While aesthetics may strike some as skin-deep, one will be amazed at how appearances can instigate change and leave a momentous mark. True, there is a kind of power that lies in what the eyes can see. But more importantly, what gives strength to splendor is its ability to reach out to others in the same manner that Audrey Hepburn spent the last years of her life working with UNICEF to help the less fortunate.
If you were proclaimed one of the most beautiful faces in the country today, it would probably be easy to sit on your laurels. Manila’s top model and entrepreneur Isabel Roces, however, begs to differ. "The common misconception, of course, is that models are only pretty faces. That they are only pretty faces. That’s not a real job," declares Isabel. An interior design student who stumbled upon modeling at 20 (through the encouragement of friend and designer Rhett Eala), she is one of the few who managed to evolve in her craft and uses it as a venue to speak on behalf of her advocacy for the environment. She recalls, "I was hesitant at first because I had no prior experience and my first appearance was in a gala show. But Rhett took a chance on me and I’m grateful for that."
Having worked with numerous creatives in her craft, Isabel’s professionalism, hard work and dedication have come in handy throughout her career. "Many presume that it’s such an easy profession, that all we have to do is stand there and look pretty. Yet, like any career, it involves a lot of dedication, hard work and keen observance. First of all, you have to know the people you work with very well. You have to study your craft, as trends are constantly changing. You also have to adapt to change quickly because the industry itself is always changing. It’s the kind of career that will be unforgiving to anyone accustomed to routine," explains the stunning beauty. While many models come and go, Isabel has been able to establish her place on the runways.
When she turned 24, Isabel once again embraced innovation as she posed surrounded by red chili in an ad campaign for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), an organization devoted to the promotion of animal’s rights. A woman whose conviction has helped her stand by every choice she has made, that particular shoot was testament to Isabel’s close affiliation with the group which has ignited new passion for her. "I share the same beliefs with PETA. After 11 years of vegetarianism, I realized that I could help spread the message about how effective being vegetarian can be in improving health and save thousands of animals. This made being vegetarian all the more worthwhile," she reveals. Her advocacy, she adds, "lets me share how I feel about animals with others. PETA makes it easier to communicate the idea across. I’d definitely like to see the whole world turn vegetarian. We believe that it’s the people themselves that need to make the conscious choice. Knowing that I’ve helped them reach that point is enough of a reward for me."
A grounded individual to the core, Isabel shies away from the prospect of a book or movie being authored on her behalf. Instead, she ponders, "I think there is no better time to live in than now. People are far more aware of the damage being done to the environment and its wildlife now, more than ever. And if I could be born as someone else, it would be in the person of somebody who can dedicate her life to wildlife conservation."
Indeed, this charming chameleon has found a calling that goes beyond the parameters of a fashion show’s dressing room or the set of a photo shoot. With full conviction she steps out of her comfort zone to make a stand. Her choice certainly entails challenge and several setbacks along the way. However, Isabel Roces, model and devoted advocate for the environment declares, "A woman with depth is a woman with conviction. It is, after all, what guides our choices."
If you were proclaimed one of the most beautiful faces in the country today, it would probably be easy to sit on your laurels. Manila’s top model and entrepreneur Isabel Roces, however, begs to differ. "The common misconception, of course, is that models are only pretty faces. That they are only pretty faces. That’s not a real job," declares Isabel. An interior design student who stumbled upon modeling at 20 (through the encouragement of friend and designer Rhett Eala), she is one of the few who managed to evolve in her craft and uses it as a venue to speak on behalf of her advocacy for the environment. She recalls, "I was hesitant at first because I had no prior experience and my first appearance was in a gala show. But Rhett took a chance on me and I’m grateful for that."
Having worked with numerous creatives in her craft, Isabel’s professionalism, hard work and dedication have come in handy throughout her career. "Many presume that it’s such an easy profession, that all we have to do is stand there and look pretty. Yet, like any career, it involves a lot of dedication, hard work and keen observance. First of all, you have to know the people you work with very well. You have to study your craft, as trends are constantly changing. You also have to adapt to change quickly because the industry itself is always changing. It’s the kind of career that will be unforgiving to anyone accustomed to routine," explains the stunning beauty. While many models come and go, Isabel has been able to establish her place on the runways.
When she turned 24, Isabel once again embraced innovation as she posed surrounded by red chili in an ad campaign for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), an organization devoted to the promotion of animal’s rights. A woman whose conviction has helped her stand by every choice she has made, that particular shoot was testament to Isabel’s close affiliation with the group which has ignited new passion for her. "I share the same beliefs with PETA. After 11 years of vegetarianism, I realized that I could help spread the message about how effective being vegetarian can be in improving health and save thousands of animals. This made being vegetarian all the more worthwhile," she reveals. Her advocacy, she adds, "lets me share how I feel about animals with others. PETA makes it easier to communicate the idea across. I’d definitely like to see the whole world turn vegetarian. We believe that it’s the people themselves that need to make the conscious choice. Knowing that I’ve helped them reach that point is enough of a reward for me."
A grounded individual to the core, Isabel shies away from the prospect of a book or movie being authored on her behalf. Instead, she ponders, "I think there is no better time to live in than now. People are far more aware of the damage being done to the environment and its wildlife now, more than ever. And if I could be born as someone else, it would be in the person of somebody who can dedicate her life to wildlife conservation."
Indeed, this charming chameleon has found a calling that goes beyond the parameters of a fashion show’s dressing room or the set of a photo shoot. With full conviction she steps out of her comfort zone to make a stand. Her choice certainly entails challenge and several setbacks along the way. However, Isabel Roces, model and devoted advocate for the environment declares, "A woman with depth is a woman with conviction. It is, after all, what guides our choices."
BrandSpace Articles
<
>