By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
Miss Universe 2012 first runner-up Janine Tugonon posed nude in her latest shoot as she won a modelling contact along with 11 other girls who will be featured in a calendar.
Now based in the US, Tugonon has been named as one of “12 Nu Muses 2017 calendar models” who will be photographed in the nude by David Bellemere in an exclusive location, $10,000, flown to Miami, Florida for the VIP launch event at Art Besel to be covered by major press outlets, featured in the December issue of “treats!” with the chance to grace the cover of the magazine and featured in a documentary to be shown in the US and distributed worldwide.
Other winners were Rachel Cook, Jessica Clements, Nidhi Sunil, Isabelle Boemeke, Alejandra Guilmant, Sabina Karlsson, Ariela Soares, Keilani Asmus, Vika Levina, Ebonee Davis and Anna Wolf. They were chosen based on social media voting and international panel of judges.
“I thought I did really bad during the testshoot/final casting since I was having a bad day that day. But got the call from my agent few days after and it was amazing! Thank you so much Nu Muses for including me,” said Tugonon as she shared the news last October 1.
Tugonon has been making waves as a fashion model abroad when she became the first Filipino to be featured in a commercial for Victoria Secrets Pink, which caters to female college students ages 13 to 22.
On the Nu Muses website, Tugonon said that she wanted to be a Nu Muse model because it will help her become an international model and actress.
“I flew to the US from Philippines with a dream. I wanted to aim higher. to be globally known and excellent in this industry (modeling and acting). Being in this calendar is a huge opportunity to showcase my beauty and personality, a great exposure for me and hopefully will be the beginning of a long lasting successful career in this field I’m very passionate about. Hope I’ll be given the chance,” she said.
Asked about her thoughts on nudity, Tugonon said: “Nudity for me is art at its purest form. It is the bare, the untouched and the raw beauty that a woman can showcase and be proud of.”
Tugonon also considered herself a timeless beauty. “I consider myself a timeless beauty because of the kindness, the confidence, the strong personality, mindset and perspectives I have inside of me. My aura is reflected by what’s within me. And that is timeless, the complete package (mind, face, personality) I can give and show from the inside.”
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.