Saturday, June 27, 2009

Ramp talk: Top Filipino, foreign male models speak about their job... Penshoppe careers for everyone

-- There are careers in Penshoppe in marketing, advertising, planning, designing and also modeling. Penshoppe modeling is a career or job held by Penshoppe's 6 new models. Find out more about them and careers in Penshoppe in this article.

At a glance, it seems that the world of modeling is all glitz and glamor--strutting down the catwalk, wearing designer clothes and attending fabulous parties every night. Modeling as a job comes with a lot of perks like getting to travel around the world, receiving free clothes and the opportunity to work with top designers and other more famous models. But the job entails hard work too, attest Filipino male models Matteo Guidicelli, Ariel Atendido and Ralph Kiefer and Japanese-Brazilian Akihiro Sato.

Sato, who now models for Penshoppe, shares that the work offers him many avenues to grow as a person, "I get to do a lot of things. I get a lot of opportunities and do things that are more than just modeling. I get to perform and act, sometimes, too. I encounter different kinds of people and make new friends, it's also great because I get to know different cultures and gain different experiences with my work." Kiefer, a member of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines, talks about the many career options open to him because of his job, "Being a model in the Philippines offers a lot of perks and opportunities to move into different fields afterwards, mainly because of the people to whom models get exposed," he says.

Atendido tells that his job could be literally painful at times. He recalled one experience he had in a photo shoot when he had to kneel down on pebbles while another model was standing on his thighs. Such aspects of the job for him are physically and emotionally challenging. Top designer Renee Salud discovered Atendido during his college days at the De La Salle University.

The four male models were in complete agreement that their job demands a lot of patience and the ability to accept rejection. "Physically, one has to stay fit as there is a direct correlation between the number of jobs you book and the shape you are in," explains Kiefer, who had experienced a lot of false promises, downtime and disappointments in his career.

Guidicelli, a Filipino-Italian car racer who also models for Penshoppe, comments on the discipline and responsibility that modeling requires. "You have to be fit to be a model. Just take care of your body, eat the right foods. Models have lots of confidence in themselves. I think that's very important too. And to me, the most important thing is to be a good role model to the youth. Giving people ideas on how a healthy lifestyle should be and basically just inspiring people." "Being a model is not only about good physical appearance but it is more of the character that will reflect your inner beauty," Atendido says.

Versatility is the key to stand out in the modeling industry. Guidicelli, who is among the top male models in the country today, shares the secret of his success. "I am not just a model. I have a background in racing and I am also trained in other fields, I feel like I have more to offer. Also, being respectful is the most important thing, which I think will really make me stand out." He got into modeling at the age of 14 while he was active in motor racing. "Penshoppe approached me, saying that they wanted to sponsor me for my racing. Without any hesitation, I said yes. From then on, Penshoppe opened doors for me to modeling and show business." Kiefer offers advice to those who want to become models. "Be patient and keep on trying, a break will come. If it doesn't work out though, then you might want to reassess the field you're in. Be as true to yourself as you can be. It can be a very brutal industry if you don't play your cards right. The keyword is patience." Kiefer and Guidicelli both walked the ramp in the recently concluded Fashion Week in Manila. "Fashion Week is a big production, it offers a lot of fun but physically, it takes its toll on you after a few days," comments Kiefer. It is his fifth time to join the big annual fashion event.

Guidicelli was also happy wrapping up his most recent fashion show, "Fashion Week was an amazing experience, and the people were great. This was my second Fashion Week for Penshoppe and I think this time around I felt more comfortable because I knew the people around me and everyone was very friendly."

Maybe you can find more career ideas here.