Cindy Kurleto: Really a rebel?

Known for her numerous endorsements in print and TV, Cindy Kurleto is a commercial model first and actress second. Tall, fair and with distinct Eurasian features, she is an endorsement magnet. We've all seen how glamorous she can be when she dons designer clothes and struts down a catwalk. Or how truly ethereal she becomes when she glams it up for an A-list event. Text by Loretta G. Ramirez. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. But did you know that this statuesque head-turner has a rebellious streak? During iGMA’s interview with Cindy during her break at the set of Daddy Di Do Du , she reveals that indeed she has a problem with authority. In fact, she manages her career and lives independently. “Yeah, I have problems with authority,” Cindy reveals while laughing. “Kaya nga I want to play the role of a person living on the streets, somebody mahirap or someone rebellious. It might show the side of me that people don’t know yet,” she declares rather mischievously. Admittedly though, she says that sometimes, it’s better to have somebody to take care of her transactions but she thinks better of it by saying “It’s also good if you don’t have anybody, because it forces you to think for yourself.” Dream Role Prior to coming in the Philippines, Cindy had no acting experience. Unless we count her portrayal of Mother Mary in her kindergarten play. But she cut her teeth in show business through hosting and television commercials. Acting would come later on. “My first real acting experience was given to me by GMA through Forever in my Heart. I played the step-sister of Regine (Velasquez), who was the bida and I was a kontrabida. Before this, I was not offered any acting jobs, so that was really a big trust that GMA gave me and I really appreciate it.” With her face lighting up, she recalls that when she got that role, her proficiency in Tagalog was so-so. “Sobrang di pa ako marunong mag-Tagalog nung time na yun, but I really wanted to say my Tagalog lines,” recalls Cindy. Today, Cindy has become a regular part of our lunch break via the show Eat Bulaga , honing her skills in hosting and acting. She can now comfortably say her Tagalog lines. Some slips-up do occur, and for this she brings her Tagalog tutor (Nino) along every time she has a taping to coach her in delivering her lines. She emphasizes that her dream role is something that people will not connect to her appearance. “People see me as someone who is sosyal na model, maputi na mayabang or suplada. Thus I would like to do the contrary, the absolute contrary. That would be a nice challenge.” Daring Roles With her admission that she wants to defy the norm that has classified her as a living mannequin, we asked her whether she’d be willing to accept daring roles and her response gave us a glimpse of a different Cindy Kurleto. “I’ve said it before, as long as the daring role does not endorse sex but shows sexuality as a normal human trait. I mean, we all eat and drink, and we all have sex, we have to admit that. If the role portrays it that way, ok ako dyan pero yung i-endorse yung sex, yun ang ayoko.” The Bob Just recently Cindy and other Kapuso stars ( Jolina Magdangal, Julia Clarete and Stef Prescottto name a few) recently started a new trend towards shorter hair. We asked Cindy whether this was one of her ways in manifesting her unruly streak. But contrary to our notion, she said she cut her hair so that people will not be intimidated by her. “Yung long hair kasi, together with my looks and attitude, sometimes come across as mataray. But when I cut my hair, parang everybody was like ‘ay mas friendlier.’ It (the haircut) made me look more approachable.” Although any haircut would suit her just fine, she said that she wants her look to be different from her other co-hosts on Eat Bulaga. “I just want to avoid the situation where people will mistake me for someone else, so to distinguish my self from the other hosts, I cut my hair. I am not maarte naman with my looks, I’m very tomboyish.” With that she gives us a sweet smile and shared another secret about wanting to leave everything behind and live by Php500 a week. But that’s another story for another day. Catch more of Cindy Kurleto Mondays to Saturdays on Eat Bulaga and Sundays on Daddy Di Do Du . * For those who want to capture the Cindy Kurleto look, she revealed that she got her hair cut at Hairworks Salon in Makati City. It is the same salon where Gretchen Barreto and Lucy Torres have their hair done.