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It wasn’t always this way, though, as she admits to be intimidated by the 'Asia’s Next Top Model' host at first.
By MARY LOUISE LIGUNAS

Monika Sta. Maria made the Philippines proud as she finished first runner-up in Asia’s Next Top Model cycle 3.

For her, it helped to have fellow Filipina supermodel Georgina Wilson as the host of the show. Aside from having a kababayan around, she was able to pick the brains of someone who has been in the industry for a decade now.

It wasn’t always this way, though, as she admits to be intimidated by the Asia’s Next Top Model host at first.

“Nung una, sobrang intimidating kasi, you see the way she presents herself. Sobrang class. Her hair, her makeup, the way she dresses [and] the way she handles herself… [you can’t help but find her to be] very intimidating,” Monika revealed.

A few weeks into the show, however, she and the other contestants got to see how down-to-earth and approachable the Filipina-British model is.

“When [the girls and I got] to know her, [we learned na] down to earth talaga siya so we [started to] feel really comfortable towards her. If you need to talk to her and she’s available, she will just talk to you,” she added.

According to Monika, Georgina serves as the big sister of all the girls in the house with the way she’s generous with advice and willing to help them out.

“Nung una, nung ‘di ko pa siya kilala, intimidating talaga but [now], she’s like a big sister sa ‘ming lahat,” Monika said.