Two Filipino women—Jodilly Pendre and Katarina Rodriguez—placed first and second runners-up in the US reality TV show “Asia’s Next Top Model” in its final episode held on April 9 at Kuala Terengganu in Malaysia.
Malaysian bet Sheena Liam was declared the winner of the show’s second season, followed by 20-year-old Pendre, who won first runner-up and 21-year-old Rodriguez in second place.
Pendre, a fashion model, is a graduate of Information Systems from the University of Santo Tomas while Rodriguez is finishing her Literature studies at the De La Salle University.
In the earlier part of the show’s 13th episode, Pendre dedicated her work to her mother. “Everything I do is for her,” she said.
“I want to give her a better future. I want to show her that she has a daughter who is willing to give everything for her,” Pendre said, adding that she did not join the show for fame, but to fulfill her mother’s dreams for her.
In the final episode, the two Filipino contenders and Liam stood in front of the judges that included Top Model host Nadya Hatugalung, Joey Mead-King, model coach Adam Williams and fashion photographer Mike Rosenthal.
The final judging was based on their overall walk and performance, with challenges that included an editorial shoot that depicted village life in Malaysia and walking for UK-based Malaysian designer Jimmy Choo.
Rodriguez was called a “diamond in the rough” by the judges, while Pendre’s performance was described as “spectacular.”
The judges, however, deemed Liam’s look and performance worthy of the top spot, describing the Malaysian blonde as the “face of modern Asia.”