SURVIVOR PHILIPPINES discovery Kiko Rustia feels so lucky to be chosen as a model for global fashion brand Bennetton'ts forthcoming fall-winter collection. He just took his luck when he saw the ad for the Benetton on-line search and applied. All in all, there were 65,000 applicants worldwide and he now lands in the search's top 40 list with the help of votes from people in far away lands as Belarus, Kazhakstan and Antigua. Kiko is now in New York City with other models for the campaign titled "It's my time." They will be captured on film by renowned photographer Josh Olin and are currently satying in chic Standard Hotel. Kiko was given 200 euros worth of Benetton outfits, but more than that, he's just happy to represent our country.
"No one model looks the same in the ad campaign," he says. "It's obvious they went for individuality, for people who are comfortable in their own skin, so each of us has his own look and lifestyle."
Before going to New York, Kiko did more exercises to tone his already muscular physique, like wall climbing, mountaineering and boat rowing. An environmentalist he lived in Boracay for three years and led coastal cleanups with his dive group, he also co-host the ecology-friendly show, "Born to be Wild", with Doc Ferds Recio on GMA-7, Thursday nights after "Saksi".
