Former Miss Universe first runner-up Janine Tugonon is making waves as a fashion model abroad when she became the first Filipino to be featured in a commercial for a product line of a famous lingerie brand for women.
Now based in the US, Tugonon has appeared in the latest ad of Victoria Secrets Pink, which caters to female college students ages 13 to 22.
“It’s my passion. Being on camera I love it. I don’t care if it’s a whole day or whole night. I enjoyed it!” said Tugonon during an interview on “TV Patrol” news program on ABS-CBN recently.
Tugonon said that she auditioned for the commercial in Los Angeles, California. But it was in New York where she finally saw the Pink commercial on television. The television ad shows Tugonon and other models acting like college students.
“It’s more of acting so they gave scenarios during the call back. So nung time ng call back, may nakilala pa akong same ng ethnicity ko. So parang it’s either she gets it or I get it,” she said. But she eventually got the part in the commercial.
Tugonon also said that one of her goals is to make a career in Hollywood. She also dreams of becoming an “angel” for Victoria Secrets and walk the runway.
“If I get bigger, I would transition it to acting. It’s definitely one of my goals – to make it to Hollywood,” she said.
NU MUSES
Tugonon also leads the voting for “12 Nu Muses” modeling contest wherein 12 models will be given the chance to pose in a calendar to be photographed by David Bellemere.
As of September 13, Tugonon tops the model search with a total of 8339 votes. Fans can still vote until Sept. 17.
Other girls in the Top 20 and their corresponding number of votes are: Jessica Clements – 7766; Dayana Mendoza – 4809; Tess Annique Wohrle – 2880; Anna Wolf – 2527; Renata Zanchi – 1781; Chelcie May – 1633; Destiny Sierra – 1553; Eleni Tsavousis – 1453; Vika Levina – 1367; Nina Daniele – 1345; Meki Saldana – 1336; Xian Mikol Crawford – 1298; Kyla Grandy – 1235; Andrea Escobar – 1176; Titi Mosquera – 1034; Liliana Tchoudinova – 1021; Sam Black – 995; Olivia Jordan – 732; and Ashley Haas – 698.
Organizers said that the Top 20 models, selected through social voting and a panel of judges, will be announced Sept. 20 and invited to a final casting.
The “12 Nu Muses” will be announced September 28. They will be photographed by Bellemere in an exclusive location, receive $10,000, and gain massive exposure.
Tugonon is a graduate of pharmacy at the University of Sto.Tomas in Manila. At the 2012 Miss Universe pageant, she became first runner-up to Olivia Culpo of USA. Following her stint in Miss Universe contest, Tugonon studied and pursued modeling in the US. She also became a model for MSA Models.