Girls on fire

MANILA, Philippines - The current Alicia Keys hit Girl On Fire provides another anthem to modern women, particularly the strong-willed, highly achieving ones who stand head up high in spite of challenges coming their way. Here are three times a lady, each boasting an intriguing story and some career development that collectively inspire.

Soul Siren Nina performed on a high gear late last month in a concert at The Music Museum titled Reborn. The show was billed as her comeback concert, though the majority would rather believe she’d never been out of the loop anyway.

In a repertoire that included medleys of Mariah Carey and Jessie J, along with a number of OPM gems, the singer made use of the occasion to promote her latest and freshly-out album called All Good, her first with Viva Records. Such development comes with her reinvention in terms of image and artistry.

“At this point in my career I’ve erased all my inhibitions and I feel I have become stronger. You can expect a more daring and provocative me,” she boldly uttered in one of her free-flowing spiels.

Noticeable was her penchant for giving love advice in-between songs, naturally sounding like someone recuperating from a romantic heartache. The superb lighting played well with the mood and provided her stage appeal with some extra glow.

The new album is also the first time that her CD’s entire content is all-Filipino written. It contains songs penned by topnotch songwriters Vehnee Saturno and Jimmy Borja, as well as her versions of Vanna Vanna’s Hurting Inside and Pops Fernandez’s Don’t Say Goodbye.

Some of the concert’s most applauded numbers were her rendition of Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin, the much-awaited performance of her big hit Someday and her duet with guest Jinky Vidal who sang with her Journey’s Separate Ways.

Meanwhile, Daiana Menezes recently joked about her being flat-chested by common standard, delivering it during an occasion (at Luxent Hotel in Timog, Q.C) that formally introduced her as the face of lingerie brand Lady Grace. It was her first time to promote such kind of apparel.

“I’d like to have bigger breast. I wish you can provide me one,” the TV host said, but not a bit sounding insecure. Who would be if you’re that pretty enough to carry a brand that’s been around for 50 years, albeit quietly?

Lady Grace, which is promoting its Shapewear Series, chose a celebrity to spread word about its product line. The brand is available at several SM Department Store branches, and other selected stores like in Crossings along Quezon Ave. in QC.

“We want to be more aggressive this time and Daiana, for us, is a timeless beauty who combines humor, sexiness, and competence,” said the brand’s lady honcho.

Daiana, who first gained fame as a host for Eat Bulaga, appears as a morning show segment host and continues to act in movies. On a serious note, she encourages ladies not to be attracted to surgeries in achieving a better physical look. “Being sexy is accepting our bodies as they are. You don’t need to go to surgeries.”

Curiously, the Brazilian national, who vocally expresses her being Pinay at heart, insisted she’s not a brand-conscious person. She argued, “You can look good without spending too much. It’s really how you carry yourself.”

Who would have thought that after her career-threatening ordeal that had her transform from a promising tale to a sorry story, Andi Eigenmann would get back on track big-time? Now that her acting career is on again, her new image as a young mom simply added to her charisma.

This was evident during an event held at Manila Peninsula, which formally launched SM Babies, an apparel line catering to “children up to two years of age.” There she became instant main attraction, though technically she was just a part of a photo exhibit called Special Moments, which featured selected moms with their babies — a visual showcase to highlight the special bond between mother and child.

“Everything I experienced made me so much stronger. I needed to get back up and grow with life,” she shared, obviously referring to her news-making surprise pregnancy that eventually produced her angel Elle.

With her fame and the public interest she has created as a controversial, yet talented act, Andi easily outshines the rest of the field included in the exhibit photos taken by premier lenswoman Pilar Tuason. Radio DJ Delamar Arias and ex-TV personality Nicole Hernandez-de los Angeles are also part of the high-society roster.

She admitted, especially with her busy schedule, “Mahirap maging hands-on mother. But there’s nothing I want more for my daughter than to grow up a happy and contented person.”