All dressed up and nowhere to go

Two of SM Youth’s new faces sizzle in the spotlight as they lounge in the season’s hottest duds.

Janna Tee

MANILA, Philippines - I started modeling when I was in Ateneo,” recalls Janna Tee. “My first ever fashion week was in college and I had to walk for SM Accessories.” A few runway gigs and an advertisement later, Janna went into the family business and pursued modeling on the side. “If I worked elsewhere, I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to go to shoots or do stuff like this, plus I get to help my folks out,” says Janna. Asked whether she had any premeditated forays, the beauty laughs and points to her face. “My cousin used to be a makeup artist and I sort of inherited all of her gear so I’m looking into that and I’m excited because playing with makeup really brings out the artistic side in me.” While her makeup artistry hasn’t exactly taken off, it seems the fashion industry is more than keen to embrace her. Newly revealed as one of the ambassadors for SM Youth together with L.A. Aguinaldo, Janna shares that being chosen as a face for a new line completely surprised her. “I’m too excited and happy that they like me and the people involved in this project are all so warm so it doesn’t feel like work at all.” That being said, we think it’s about time modeling becomes her main event.

L.A. Aguinaldo

L.A. Aguinaldo is on a streak. Having just signed with Mercator agency as a talent and SM Youth as an ambassador, the Filipino-Italian newcomer sat across from me and offered a glimpse into the busy life of a model. “I worked hard to get my name out,” muses the 23-year-old. Once Aguinaldo left the halls of the academe, the perennial question of whether or not to go corporate sat with him until he had a definite answer to “Do I really want to sit in an office from 9 to 5 every single day?” Things easily kicked off from there. Holding Candy magazine responsible for putting him in the spotlight, L.A. admits “It was the Candy girls who first gave me a following.” Pretty soon the Candy cutie started getting gigs for heavyweights such as Smart and SM and is now an ambassador for SM’s newest campaign, SM Youth. “I’ve been doing shoots with SM for a long time and they helped me gain experience. Later on, they liked what they saw and approached me to become an endorser.” Aside from his model citizenship, L.A. has been looking at things from an empire state of mind what with two new businesses in the works. “I’ve always wanted to rely on myself,” says L.A., “I have the energy and the ideas and I know I have just what it takes to get these things to the next level.” —Meg Manzano