Heart Evangelista: ‘I was elated and honored to be featured as a fashion icon’

Heart Evangelista again made waves when she was included in Kevin Kwan’s Harper Bazaar’s feature on real-life crazy rich Asians.

The video, shot during Paris Couture Week in July, trended on Thursday.

Speaking to GMA News Online, Heart confirmed it was because of this project that she flew to Paris and met with Kevin Kwan.

Heart said she was unsure when the best-selling author called her for the project. “I called him back asking if he was sure he really wanted me. I even said ‘I’m not sure I’m the girl you’re looking for’,” Heart narrated.

“I am elated and honored for them to feature me as a fashion icon. I never thought my passion for fashion would bring me to such heights, especially to be on Harper’s Bazaar US.”

In the feature, Kevin called Heart ‘a modern-day Aubrey Hepburn’.

Heart hails from a Filipino-Chinese clan that founded the Barrio Fiesta food empire and is married to Francis Joseph “Chiz” Guevara Escudero, a member of the Philippine Senate who was a leading candidate for vice president two years ago. But her illustrious social standing isn’t the only reason the photographers were clicking away: Heart also happens to be one of the most popular actresses in the Philippines. It didn’t hurt that in her round tinted sunglasses and sequined ombré dress, she looked like a modern-day incarnation of Audrey Hepburn. Images of her went viral before the fashion show was even over, with her fans furiously speculating about why she was in Paris and whether she might be in the Crazy Rich Asians film.

Apart from fashion week, Heart also shot her first ad in Paris.

Heart’s appearance with Kevin Kwan triggered rumors of her inclusion in the next installment of “Crazy Rich Asians” but Heart laughed it off. “You’ll only see me beside you in the cinema watching the movie.”

"Crazy Rich Asians" will hit cinemas on August 22. — with reports from Lendl Fabella / AT, GMA News