Marc Nelson the search for the ultimate girl

Known as one of the country’s ultimate hunk, Marc Nelson — with his charm and buffed up physique displayed on TV, billboards and covers of glossy magazines — is no doubt every woman’s fantasy. Now, as the host of reality show The Debutante, Marc has the enviable task of being surrounded by a bunch of pretty girls.

For Marc though, it has always been beyond just the physical aspects. A beautiful face and a sexy body are not enough to capture his attention. Aside from having those, he believes that an “It” girl should also posses a great personality and a good heart.

“There are so many people these days who are so concerned with how they look. Sometimes the core values of what really makes up a person are lost. For me, an ‘It’ girl is someone who’s not just a beautiful person on the outside but also on the inside,” he says.

After being a contestant in a reality show that challenged him physically, mentally, and emotionally, Marc takes on an exciting and different kind of challenge now as the reality show host.

“This is very different. It’s been a while since I’ve done a show like this where I get to dress up a little bit and I’m not jumping off buildings or from a plane. It’s my way to sort of relax and to have a taste of another reality show genre. I’m going to be a little different from what you see,” he explains.

Marc believes that as the show emphasizes the importance of inner beauty, it also creates awareness of what makes a woman truly beautiful. “It’s a great way for the youth especially the girls to see that it’s not all about what’s on the outside that’s important. It judges the girls on how well-rounded they are, what their personalities are like, their morals, their leadership skills and how they interact with others,” he shares.

Seeing the girls each week also underscores for him the tension felt every elimination day. “I know how it’s like to be a competitor,” he says. “And how nerve-wracking it is to listen to those fatal words like ‘you’ve been eliminated’ or ‘you’re not a debutante.’ I really feel for the girls.”

The aspiring debutantes who will be joining Marc are Schinina Juban (The Sassy Cheerleader); Danielle Lee (The Dynamic Heiress); Sophia Abdullah Ahmed (The Coffee Princess); Samantha Gamboa (The Lively Ballerina); Bianca Bauer (The German Pinay); Joy Velasco (The Teenage Beauty Queen); Bea Candaza (The Cheerful Baby); Mishi Casal (The Petite Performer); and Kate Bautista (The Fierce Mannequin).

Also joining them are KC Hollman (The Charming Sister); Bebs Hollman (The Dutiful Guardian); Istara Bon Gundry (The Vegan Activist); Miki Hahn (The Sultry Singer); Michelle Paloma (The Independent Model); Aby Adao (Miss Beauty and Brains); Chrizenda Cecilio (The Cover Girl); Denisse Oca (The Chick Flicks Fanatic); and Rachel Tan (The Feisty Artist).

Another believer of inner beauty is program manager Melo Esguerra. According to him, the show is unique because it focuses on molding the contestants into good individuals and not at all on anything that will destroy any of the contestant’s character.

“It’s totally different from most other reality shows,” Melo says. “This is a reality show that will not embarrass anyone. It will allow each of the contestants to have an opportunity for growth as an individual.” It also empowers the young women of today and encourages them to be a positive influence in their communities even at an early age.

Judging every move of the contestants each week are no less than philanthropist and social doyenne Fortune Ledesma; beauty queen and image enhancement expert Abby Arenas de Leon; Entrepreneurship advocate Vivienne Tan; and Manila’s Five Loveliest and physician, Dr. Maritess Gozon-Viterbo.

In its pilot episode, viewers will get to know more about these aspiring debutantes as they walk their way down the red carpet at the Alchemy Club with their equally charming escorts. The young ladies will also showcase their terpsichorean skills and grace on the dance floor.

What does Marc think of the girls? “Every girl here deserves to be a winner. Some stand out for more reasons than others but that’s just on the surface. We’ve yet to get to know them a little better. All the girls seem very wholesome and beautiful,” Marc grins.

The Debutante premieres on May 5, 7 p.m. on Q-11.