How to make it in America

MANILA, Philippines - Being a big fish in a small pond may feel good, but being a paltry but fighting fry in the vast ocean would be infinitely more exciting and fulfilling. Especially when that small fry moves up the food chain.

We celebrate what the lucky few have achieved. These names and faces are able to banner to the rest of the world what Filipino beauty is (diverse and multi-faceted) and how capable Filipino talents are (very).

YStyle presents some of the most successful recent transatlantic stories of models and photographers who took a risk and gambled it all, just for a bite of the Big Apple.

Paolo Roldan, model

Year zero at New York: 2009

Portfolio boosters: Walking the runway for Michael Bastian, Frankie Morello, and Vivienne Westwood shows; appearing in GQ, i-D, and Hercules magazine editorials

High profile projects: Being an exclusive model for Givenchy for four seasons and getting photographed nude by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott for Vogue Paris.

Additional feather to his cap: Being the latest and most talked-about addition to local retail giant Bench’s roster of models

On the increasing diversity on international runways and campaigns: “There’s more Asian, there’s more African American models walking the runway, showing up in campaigns. I mean, it’s gonna take some time but change is coming, and I believe that we all have to believe that.”

Meki Saldana, model/actress

Year zero at New York: 2008

Portfolio boosters: Walking at the New York Fashion Week shows for Monique Lhuillier, Isabel Toledo, Jill Stuart, and Diane von Furstenberg; modeling for lookbooks for Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, and Tracy Reese; modeling for the Nars, Clinique, and Lancome cosmetic videos

High profile projects: Playing “Blue Chip” girl in the upcoming The Wolf of Wall Street; appearing in the latest Dior Homme perfume TVC, which stars Robert Pattinson; and acting in The Other Woman (2014) with Cameron Diaz, Don Johnson, and Kate Upton  

On making it in New York at the right time: “I’m happy things fell into place when I was mentally, emotionally, and physically ready because then, I was able to make things happen. It’s tough here: young models leave their schools, homes, and families to work so no one is on vacation in La-La Land. Everyone means business. New York isn’t called the Concrete Jungle for no reason.”

Brent Chua, model/photographer

Year Zero at New York: 2004

Portfolio boosters: Winning Male Model of the Year at the 2004 Singapore Fashion Awards

High profile projects: Appeared in campaigns for Benetton, Bang and Olufsen, TIGI Bedhead, Kenzo, and more; walked the runway for Versace, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake, Paul Smith, Gucci, and Boss among others; photographed by Steve Meisel for Vogue US; and more recently, working as a photographer for Manifesto Magazine Asia and Men Moments cover stories and fashion editorials, as well as model portfolios and ad campaigns. Chua was the photographer for Paolo Roldan’s spring/summer 2013 Bench Body campaign.

On Asian representation in the modeling scene: “It seems that there has been a huge increase in Asian models recently, especially here in New York. Of course there is always room for more and more. I just hope it won’t turn out to be a fad. Yet I don’t believe it will — it seems a new appreciation has come for Asian models, especially girls, where they have become less of a minority and more a part of the majority,” he tells Audrey mag.

Renie Saliba, fashion photographer

Year zero as a New York-based photographer: 2008 (Prior to that, Saliba held a “regular job”; he had moved to New York when he was only 17)

High profile projects: Shooting covers and editorials for Elle, L’Officiel Homme magazine, August Man magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, GQ, and Dsection magazine among others

On the start of his love affair with photography: “I picked up a W magazine and flipped through the pages. I fell in love with an editorial by Mert and Marcus. I also wanted to create a story that could be in magazines like that. I went out and bought about 30 disposable cameras, because I couldn’t afford a digital camera then. That was the beginning of it all,” he tells yawyw.com.

Lucia Santiago, model

Year zero at New York: 2003

Profile booster: Winning the 1997 Elite Model of the year

High profile projects: Posing for Patrick Demarchelier and John Divine, and playing bit roles in TV shows Gossip Girl and 30 Rock and in films Sex and the City, What Happens in Vegas, and The Devil Wears Prada

Recent accomplishment: Finishing her internship at the New York Times

Current goal: Finishing her accounting degree

On how New York has changed her: “Working in Manila gave me the knowledge I needed to make it in another country. And once you are used to what you are doing, you will feel the need to challenge yourself more, which was what New York gave me,” Lucia tells The STAR.

Emman Montalvan, fashion photographer

Year zero at Los Angeles: 2011

High profile projects: Shooting editorials for Tantalum and Nasty magazines, album art works for independent musicians, and advertising campaigns for online designer clothing boutique The Dreslyn (www.thedreslyn.com), and putting together his own photography book, which is open for viewing at his website Emmanmontalvan.com.

On being a self-made photographer: “I’m pretty much self-taught. I got my start with editorial work when I was 17, and I haven’t stopped since then. I constantly have a story running in my mind, so I always try to capture it in images. I believe I’m still building my career. I lived in the Philippines all of my life until I moved to Los Angeles over a year ago (2011). I’m excited to see what LA has for me. I love the weather and California lifestyle,” he tells Tantalum magazine.

Charo Ronquillo, model

Year zero at New York: 2006

Profile booster: Winning first place at the 2006 Ford Supermodel of the World

High profile projects: Walking at New York Fashion Week for Lela Rose, Tory Burch, Antonio Berardi, Kenneth Cole, BCBG, and Sisley; appearing at Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture FW 2011/2012 for Julien Fournié and Eric Tibusch; appearing on Project Runway Season 2’s finale catwalk for eventual winner Chloe Dao’s collection; modeling for fashion and beauty editorials for Spanish Vogue, Indian Vogue, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan; and appearing in advertisements for Old Navy, Macy’s, and Sak’s Fifth Avenue.

On the difference between the Manila and New York work environments: “In New York, if it’s work, then it’s work. Here, it’s fun and playful. Everybody’s, like, talking to each other. In New York, it’s so professional. They just ask, ‘How are you?’ and that’s it,” Charo tells Spot.ph.