Daphne Oseña-Paez as Jackie Kennedy-Onassis

Far more than just another pretty face on television, Daphne Oseña-Paez radiates elegance and intelligence.

Past Daphne’s Dresden-like porcelain skin and baby doll eyes is a woman who exudes great taste, a sense of culture and a deep understanding of art.

Daphne has come a long way since coming to the Philippines over a decade ago, first as an urban planner, then a broadcaster and a TV host.

Daphne,  who majored in Urban Studies and Fine Art History at the University of Toronto, is one of the most respected personalities in television today.

She hosted the popular fashion TV magazine F and for eight years, has been giving Pinays the lowdown on fashion and beauty. Daphne has become one of  Manila’s fashion icons as well, praised for her no-frills and straightforward but classy sense of fashion, much like the late Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, one of the world’s most famous women, and was — and still is — an object of fascination to generations of Americans. She was admired for being glamorous and trendy and whose trademark fashion get-up — dark glasses, head scarf and one piece dress — never goes out of style.

Like Jackie O., Daphne sticks to classic dressing.

“I wear dresses, just dresses. I grew up with her picture always on my mind because I thought my mom looked like her. I really admire Jackie O.’s look because her clothes then, in the ’60s, still look modern. I admire her style, her look and the way she dresses. I try to emulate that. I don’t go for trendy trend. I update once in a while but I wear basic, really just wear dresses, the way Jackie O. did,” says Daphne.

Wearing dresses is also how she likes to keep things simple and uncomplicated.

“With the dress, you don’t have to think too hard. I have no time to think what matches my jeans and I’m more comfortable with one piece, it’s like ‘Wear a dress, change your shoes and get out of the house’ and that’s it,” says Daphne.

Aside from being a career woman, Daphne is also a doting mother to her two kids — Lily Paloma, two, and Sophia Rose, five. She is also a loving wife to husband TV journalist Patrick Paez.

These days, Daphne juggles her time between her family and work.

Family comes first to Daphne no matter what and that is why she opted to resign from her other show Proudly Filipina to focus on her family. Now, she’s hosting Urban Zone, a lifestyle magazine about stylish living and excellent designs aired over ABS-CBN every Sunday.

“My work was very demanding a few months ago when I had two television shows but what I realized is that my family should come first. My two young kids need me. In terms of balancing, you also have to realize what’s important to you because you can’t have everything. So, I prioritize my children, and I’m lucky that my work is flexible and that I’m able to work at home,” says Daphne.

And in rearing children, Daphne is all hats off to Jackie O. who once said that, “If you bungle raising your children, nothing else much matters in life.”

Jackie O. was widowed at age 34 when her husband US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.

Blessed with good skin

Even though she has a busy schedule, Daphne never forgets to take care of her skin with Olay Total Effects. To stay young, she says she first forgets about her age.

Blessed with a beautiful skin, she never fails to put on a moisturizer to keep her skin supple and moist and sun block for protection against the harmful rays of the sun.

“I don’t party hard, I don’t drink much, I don’t smoke. So it’s basically clean living,” Daphne says of the factors that also contribute to her beautiful skin.

But what makes her skin healthy and glowing is the happiness and contentment she feels from having a loving family. Keeping things simple at home is also her key to beat stress and wrinkles.

“To keep your skin glowing, you should also be under a good  emotional state because if you are unhappy, if you are worrying too much, you will have crow lines and other wrinkles. I am surrounded by love from my husband and children. I try not to worry, and I keep aspects of my life simple,” Daphne says.