Student Turned Model Turned Stylist

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Student Turned Model Turned Stylist

Photo shoots. Fashion. Glam. Stature. Presence. Style. Empowerment. Bangles. These are the words best associated to a person I know who is amazing but at the same time controversial. She is extraordinary enough to accomplish quite a lot even when conflicts flooded in. She is Lou Yao.

Lou Yao, standing at 5’5’’ at age 20 with her Asian-colored luminous skin accented with deep Chinita eyes as her best asset, has graced the covers of Meg/Candy magazines, the screens of GMA commercials and a whole lot

more. She has already accomplished so much as a model and now, even a stylist at such an early age, but her journey wasn’t all glitz and glamour.

Born on the 24^th of December in 1988 to a Chinese family, she is the middle child of three sisters. (I've known her for quite some time now, because her youngest sister is a very close friend of mine.) Her sisters would describe her as the most mischievous one, but at the same time the most reliable sister. “One time, back when we were kids, we were at a party. I was just standing in a corner, suddenly she (Lou) comes to me and then I start crying. She must’ve pinched me or something. And I even have a video to prove this!” shares youngest sister, Louie. “but then every time someone picks on me, she’s always there to fight them off.”

It’s not hard to imagine what the mischievous young Lou was like, especially since now she exudes such strong personalities and vibrant auras that make you feel as if you’ve been friends with her for a very long time, though others take it the wrong way.

After spending 11 years in a Chinese school near her then house, she was asked to transfer. It was funny how a fourteen year old was accused of committing adultery. Her family asked for proof to support their allegations, but the school administration didn’t have anything other than “hearsays”. How about another chance? The administration said they couldn’t do anything anymore; the damage had already been done. Even other schools would not accept a student who’d been kicked out for such reasons. She had no choice but to be home schooled, while her sisters remained where they have studied. A minor set-back that obviously didn’t prove to be enough to stop this young lady, after some time, she finally made it to college.

Lou may have had rough times with her “schooling”, but her modelling career was blossoming. At age 13, she joined a model search by Ford Modelling Agency called “Who Wants To Be A Top Model?” – but she was too young to work abroad, so she was booted out. When doors close, windows usually open. Calcarrie’s International Modelling Agency signed her up, and she became their youngest model at that time. From then on her career skyrocketed. She has been on glossy magazines, GMA Station ID, Palmolive Circle of 10, John Robert Powers Billboard. How was she able to get the hang of being a model? “It helps to attend modelling and acting workshops. One good company that offers these would be John Robert Powers.” Lou advises.

She is currently studying Styling at School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFa). And that’s where she started her career as an assistant celebrity stylist. Luis Espiritu, her mentor-turned-boss, liked her performance as a student, called her up and asked if she wanted to pursue a career as a stylist. She, of course, said yes.

So it has been two months since she agreed to do the job and indeed she has already done much. She has worked with Lea Salonga, KC Concepcion, Maricar Reyes, John Lloyd Cruz, Sarah Geronimo, Jericho Rosales, and Tessa Prieto-Valdez, and many, many more! I just had to ask what it was like - “I just talk to them like how I talk to normal people. You can’t afford to be a fan because as a stylist you have to portray the image of being “sosyal” so that celebrities and models won’t belittle you. Some of them I can say are really nice. Like Ms. Tessa Prieto. She’s really one of a kind.” says Lou.

I believe many would kill to have her job; imagine all the free stuff (Yes, she gets free clothing apparels, accessories, tickets, gift certificates, food. You name it, she gets it FREE.), the famous and powerful people she meets, but what does it really take to get a styling career? “You have to have your own identity and style. There’s a fine line between fashion and style, being a “fashionista” is not enough in this type of job. You have to be stylish in your own way to be able to survive. I really love dressing up, so maybe one of my edges in this industry is the fact that I am “maarte” in nature.”

After an hour or two, I was able to unravel juicy yet inspiring details of her life journeys. She may have been expelled and all, but taht never stopped her from succeeding. I guess it's not just about acing academically but also professionally and socially. In her case, she wasn't shaped up by books, but by experience. What she went through wasn't easy. She had to face accusations, consequences, and even injustice I might add. But she was able to turn these "mishaps" into tools to her advantage. It might have taken awhile to oversee all the problems that went her way, but surely she has made a strong comeback. It could've been difficult to overcome if it wasn't for friends and family's love and care. "They (friends and family) understand that I'm just starting so they hepl me as well. As for my parents, they are very supportive; they let us grow and learn on our own." Lou acknowledges.

I won't be surprised to see her face plastered on media the next time I go out. :)