Face of Allure: Gwen Ruais

MANILA, Philippines –  Her childhood is something that most kids can only dream of. At 20, Gwendoline Ruais has traveled the world over and is back at home. The privilege of having the best of both worlds has made the Filipino-French beauty realize how lucky she is to be blessed with a loving and caring family that gives her everything she wants and more. Successfully blending in her Filipino and French values, the 5’11”-tall Gwen says she is a product of “the good moral values of the Filipinos and the very liberal state of mind of the French.” Add to that her treasure trove of lessons learned from the cultures of the many countries she’s visited.

Having a dad who used to work for an airline, Gwen recalls that her childhood was a perfect adventure. She was born in the Philippines. When Gwen was two, her family moved to Thailand and stayed there until she was five. Then her family stayed in France. At 11, they moved back to the Philippines. “I also traveled all around for vacations,” she gushes. “I’ve taken 10 times more planes than cabs in my life!”

The second child of Vincent Ruais (a former manager of Air France in Southeast Asia) and former international model Malou Ramos-Ruais, Gwen says that her travels have taught her to be open to the many differences that exist between countries and cultures.

But before she learned so much about the world, she got her first lessons on life from her parents. “Dad wants us to be able to manage on our own. Even if he gives us anything we want, he taught us to never take anything for granted — to make smart investments and spend wisely,” Gwen relates. “My mom, on the other hand, taught me that in order to succeed in life, you have to work hard and persevere.”

Gwen admits that she didn’t have a specific ambition when she was young. “I was too busy enjoying the present to seriously think about the future,” she laughs. With time, however, she came face to face with the idea that her mom was a force to reckon with in the modeling industry, having modeled in Paris, Milan and New York for Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Emanuel Ungaro and Jean Paul Gaultier. “That made me dream of following her footsteps,” says Gwen, who got her first modeling job at 12. Asked how she was discovered, she jokingly shares, “I was raised by an international model so it was more like I was the one who discovered modeling.”

After finishing her Business Management degree (with honors) from Southville Foreign University, Gwen set her sights on modeling full time. She was the Philippine representative to the Super Model of Asia held in China last August and won “Best in Catwalk.” She has also modeled for some clothing brands and makeup companies. Gwen has also done ramp modeling for a number of fashion shows and is the face of many fashion editorials.

“I’m currently ‘all in’ as to my modeling career. I chose a great agency, Mercator. I actually attend go-sees now and I’m planning on leaving right after the holidays to try my luck abroad,” she reveals.

Gwen believes that in life, you can accomplish anything you set your mind into. “You just have to figure out if the goal is worth the effort to achieve it,” she says. “Right now, I am still in the ‘figuring out’ part.”