WATCH: Heart Evangelista reacts to being ‘international fashion icon’

MANILA, Philippines (Updated Nov. 17, 9 a.m.) — Actress Heart Evangelista was anything but snub at last week’s 45th anniversary fashion show of New York-based international Filipina designer Josie Natori in The Peninsula Manila Hotel.

Heart accommodated everyone who greeted her and flanked her for photos at the Natori show. She even granted Philstar.com an exclusive interview last Thursday.

In fact, when Philstar.com asked Heart for her reaction to her new moniker given by fans and news outlets as an “international fashion icon” for representing the Philippines in various fashion weeks for years now, Heart was quick to declare in all humility: “Ay my, no! I’m not!”

According to her, she is merely savoring every moment of her time at the fashion shows.

“Some people say that I am (international fashion icon), but I really do enjoy what I’m doing abroad.”

She said she is back to the country to use the worldwide attention she got to promote more Filipino designers and talents into the global stage.

“I’m back here! And I also do a lot of support for our designers.”

Among those designers is Josie Cruz Natori, who marked her brand’s 45th anniversary with its first-ever dance fashion presentation with Ballet Philippines.

Heart said of the Natori aesthetic: “I love it! Because now, it’s all about self-expression. It’s all about feeling comfortable, feeling sexy at the same time. I love the vibrance of the prints always.”

As for the Natori silhouettes she goes for, Heart vouched: “I love her kimono outfits, the drapes, and I also love the caftans. Everything, actually. It’s so flexible like an obi belt. Beautiful!” — Video by Philstar.com/Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo

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