Ford supermodel Charo Ronquillo drinks Tropicana Coco Quench

March is a celebration of women and all her glory, and Tropicana Coco Quench endorser, Charo Ronquillo, is the embodiment of all that’s good with the fairer sex – beauty, charm, and of course, a healthy lifestyle. In celebration of women’s month, Charo shares her secrets to a successful career and a balanced life.

 

Charo shares that having a positive outlook has helped her boost not only her career, but also her personal life. Even before entering and becoming a finalist at the 2005 search for Ford Supermodel of the World Philippines, she had always viewed life with her glass half-full, stating,“I have been blessed with so much, and I attribute this to always seeing the positive side of life. When you think and do good things, good things come back to you ten-fold.”  

But aside from inner beauty, the first thing you notice about the statuesque model is her outer beauty. Blessed with what Bill Ford of Ford Models called, “that unique look from the Philippines,” she radiates a beautiful, healthy glow that can only come from a balanced lifestyle.

 

Charo credits her slender frame and radiant skin to her healthy living, which is a conscious effort. Despite pressure from the industry, she can only admit to the vice of working a little too hard to reach for her dreams.

 

Her daily fitness routine includes yoga, running around Central park, hitting the gym, and eating healthy meals in between – less sugar, more protein, and healthy refreshments. It’s been said that successful people start their days early, and Charo is one of them. She wakes up at 6 AM and tries to sleep by 10 PM when her schedule permits.

 

Having started early in the business, Charo has come a long way from the 17-year-old girl who was still finding her way in the Big Apple. Her greatest achievement she says is surviving the big city, and gaining the strength she never thought she had. Now at 25, she is smarter, tougher, and a whole lot wiser than probably any girl at the same age.

 

Bagging different photo shoots from places like Spain, Paris, and her new home, New York, Charo can only be thankful for blessings that have come her way. She may have gained and lost friends along the way but the experience has only taught her to be independent and to always look out for herself.

 

“When you’re away from home, you only have yourself to depend on. So you have to make sure you make sound and valid decisions, and that you set your eyes on the goal so you will never get lost.”

 

Charo takes pride in her modeling career that has allowed her to work with big international labels like Tory Burch, Lacoste, Kenneth Cole, Mac Cosmetics, BCBG, and Benetton to name a few. She has also appeared in advertisements for Old Navy, Macy’s, and Sak’s Fifth Avenue.

 

“It’s not all glitter and gold. There are days when I curl up in bed and cry myself to sleep. It is never easy to be on your own, but you have to muster the courage to wake up and find the strength in your heart to face another day with a smile.”

 

This is why Charo serves as an inspiration to a lot of people. More than the Supermodel she has been known for, she is the epitome of a strong woman. She has braved her fears, learned how to grow out of her insecurities, and take any street as her runway – now more confident, stronger, and happier.

 

Like any regular girl, her guilty pleasure includes shopping. When she knows she worked hard, she gives herself a reward by strolling in the streets Manhattan with a couple of paper bags in her hands. Also, the big sister in her loves to shop for her siblings in Laguna, which she brings home when she visits twice a year. She goes on regular visits back home for Philippine Fashion Week every May and October, where she graces the runway for local designers.

 

A person of good nature  is what Charo has become after years of hard work in the modeling industry. She shares that the secret to achieving and maintaining success is to not let the momentum get to her, to always value the people who have helped her, and lastly, knowing herself and doing what’s best for her and the people she loves.

 

“Being happy is always a choice. I’m still the simple probinsyana girl from Cabuyao, only now I take the subway instead of jeepneys. I walk the streets of New York, and not just along the side streets of Laguna. You have to appreciate what you do, where you are, and most importantly the people around you. This will help you become a good person, a happy person.”

 

This persona was what caught the eye of Tropicana Coco Quench before they launched the first packaged coconut water drink in the country. Her character and her lifestyle made her a standout in the pool of endorser choices. True enough, Charo manifests the Tropicana Coco Quench lifestyle.

 

Prior to her big endorsement gig with Tropicana, Charo shares her childhood love for buko juice, which she used to get from the market and street vendors. Even as a kid, she understood the benefits of coconut water as a natural cleansing drink.

 

“It came at the right time. When my good friend and mentor, Joey Espino, told me about the deal, I was so ecstatic. Everyone loves coconut water. It’s even perfect now for my lifestyle since I’m very active and I’m always on the go.”

 

Tropicana Coco Quench is the first locally produced and packaged coconut water drink available in the Philippines. It has an eight-month shelf life, and comes in two variants, 330 ml and 1 L.