FROM LEFT: Global Sales and Marketing Director of Doha Trendsetters Analyn B Esmer, Filipino actor and image model of BNY and Hammerhead Derrick Monasterio, and Aisha of Federico Mahora Group at the press conference yesterday. Salim Matramkot
BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: Over 80 aspiring models, mostly from three Philippine schools in Qatar, competed in the finals of the first season of Doha Trendsetters Image Model Search held yesterday at the Regency Halls.
Sporting their best look and outfits, toddlers, kids, teens and adults took the runway to vie for the chance to be the next print models for Doha Trendsetters ready-to-wear Philippine made products.
Over 150 hopefuls registered for the competition launched in December last year and opened for the entire Filipino community here.
“The first season of the image model search has been well-received with various nationalities expressing interest to join the search,” Analyn B Esmer, Global Sales and Marketing Director of Doha Trendsetters, said at a press conference before the main event yesterday.
Esmer said they wanted to reach out to the Filipinos first since their products are from the Philippines. She said it this was why they decided to open the competition to the Filipino community but a more ‘fabulous’ second season would open to other nationalities as well.
“Filipinos are known to spend money for quality clothes so other nationalities trust our products,” she said, stressing the brand has been successful creating its own niche in the Qatari market since its launch. Nearly QR1m sales of the products have been generated by various sponsors involved in the search, she said, and for this they are mulling on expanding their portfolio to include other brands such as the famous Federico Mahora perfumes among others.
The months-long search involved studio and outdoor shoots as well as mall, store and school visits to come up with the official candidates for the final competition last night.
Derrick Monasterio, Filipino teen actor and image model of BNY and Hammerhead-two of the products of Doha Trendsetters, performed at the event last night attended by hundreds of Filipinos.
“This is my first time in Qatar but I feel very much at home because there are many Filipinos wherever I go,” said Monasterio. The Peninsula
