Beyond the Crown: Interview with FORD Model Aya Abesamis
Journeying into the world of fashion is no easy feat, especially when following in the footsteps and out of the shadows of well-established parents. But Filipina artist, advocate and model, Aya Abesamis, makes it look effortless. Having graced global campaigns with M.A.C. Cosmetics, Michael Cinco, Forever 21, Puma and Nissan, Aya sits down with us to talk about her early career highlights and what’s next for her.
Aya was brought into the world by top models JB and Desiree Abesamis. Her mother, Desiree, is best known for her time in pageantry as the Philippines representative to the 1984 Miss Universe pageant, where she placed 3rd runner up. She then went on to make a name for herself in the fashion industry as one of the top models of the country. Aya’s father, JB, was also a top model. He later ventured into becoming a physician, specializing in maritime medicine. Together, they established the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) on February 11, 1987, the only organization of models in the Philippines run by models themselves, each confident of their own talents, abilities and capabilities to manage and plan their modeling careers.
Aya’s journey through life started in Long Beach, California. She grew up in Los Angeles and then moved to the Philippines at the age of 6, where she went on to complete her education. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), majoring in painting. Her modeling career, however, started in the middle of her college days. She landed her first job in 2009 during Philippine Fashion Week.
Aya went on to become one of the most sought after models in the industry. She graced runways both locally and internationally for some of the top designers of the world, while appearing regularly in magazine spreads and brand campaigns. Slowly but surely, she built her name to be respected globally, not because she had parents who had left a mark on the industry, but because she had what it took to succeed. Though comparison was inevitable, Aya made it a point to stay true to who she was and avoid the noise.
“It was really hard for me, but I tried my best to manage it and be myself, not to just follow their footsteps but to be me, to follow my dreams and go for my goals”, she explained.
Her first steps into the world of pageantry were much awaited. Growing up, Aya had learned to live with encouragement from practically everyone around her to follow in her mother’s footsteps and the immense amount of pressure that came with it. After building her confidence in the Big Apple, she decided to give in to the noise and submit her application for the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 pageant.
“It was intense because when I first joined, I just flew in from New York and I wasn’t able to train that much or be super duper ready. I experienced a lot of bashers, and not being fully prepared for that was kind of heartbreaking”, Aya recalled.
Her arrival into the world of pageantry sparked buzz and curiosity throughout the industry. Many were anxious to see if she could follow in her mother’s footsteps. The outcome, however, was not as she had hoped for. Despite being among the fan favorites throughout the duration of the competition, Aya finished uncrowned in the Top 15.
After the pageant, Aya dove back into the Philippine Fashion scene, gracing magazine covers and booking fashion shows internationally. Even after her Binibining Pilipinas 2018 stint, her fans and supporters were persistent and continuously flooded her social media posts with messages of encouragement, urging her to give pageantry another shot. After one year of contemplating, she decided to go for it.
Aya’s application for Binibining Pilipinas 2019 sent waves throughout the community of avid pageant fans. Her return shocked many, as she came back to the world of pageantry even more refined and determined to win a crown. Ultimately, her hard work and effort earned her the “Bb. Pilipinas 1st Runner Up 2019” title.
In the midst of her reign, Aya assumed the title “Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2019” after her co-queen stepped down. This made her the third person in her family to hold a title in Binibining Pilipinas history, alongside her cousin, Mafae Yunon-Belasco (Bb. Pilipinas World 2003, Miss World 2003 Top 5 finalist) and mother, Desiree Verdadero-Abesamis (Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1984, Miss Universe 1984 3rd runner up). Her unconventional crowning was yet another wonderful surprise for her fans.
“I actually learned about it while on vacation. When I came back we had meetings for me to understand the responsibilities. After that, I really planned to use my title to push my advocacy and help everyone, just like my queen sisters”, mentioned Aya. After years of anticipation and contemplation, she had finally made her own mark on the world of Philippine pageantry.
As the pandemic went into full effect, Aya turned to her love for fashion and art and started her own clothing line, AAYA. Her designs brought out both her Western side and her Asian side, featuring playful colors in uniquely designed pieces. Her work has been seen on celebrities such as Youtube star, Crisha Johns Uy, Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 6 contestant, Jach Manere, and Miss Universe Philippines-Tourism 2021, Katrina Jayne Dimaranan and has garnered recognition throughout the industry for it’s fun new play on fashion.
Aya completed her Binibining Pilipinas reign and won the hearts of Filipinos all over the world through her passion and drive for the advocacies she carried out. She closed out this chapter of her life with a crown on her head and a smile on her face.
On her birthday in 2021, she took another leap of faith and moved back to the Big Apple to expand her horizons even further. Aya signed with Ford Models, one of the most respected modeling agencies in New York. She now works as a designer and model in the city that never sleeps.
Signing with Ford Models opened up a whole new world of possibilities for Aya. To this day, she continues to do what she loves with a grateful heart and a courageous spirit.
Her advice to those who wish to follow in her footsteps: “Do not be scared to do something crazy, crazy to the point that it scares you out of your comfort. Being comfortable and not able to grow is a no-no. You have to be able to start something new, start studying, be open to learn more through life, meet a lot of people, and just do everything with kindness. Kindness is power.”
Written By Nico Belasco
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