Young+Ventures

Katrina Catapia, or “Kat” as her friends call her is definitely not your typical young woman. She has in many ways taken that proverbial ‘road less travelled’. Because of doing so, she now is simultaneously a student, an entrepreneur, and a model.

The road of her recent history led her to Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City where she took up a culinary arts program at Center for Culinary Arts. Not satisfied, she then decided to follow that road further south, down to C-5, to learn more about business. This road took her to the Entrepreneurs School of Asia, where she ended up pursuing an entrepreneurial path. This gave birth to her ongoing catering business. As fate would have it, while at school, Kat was spotted by an up-and-coming designer, Raisa de Guzman,who will be featured in our May issue together with her fashion line, Erzullie).

Erzullie, a moderate to high fashion plus size line here in the Philippines (http://erzullie.multiply.com), had a chance to catch up with her during the shoot. Below are excerpts of their chat about her experience with the line and her thoughts about her advocacy as a plus size woman.

Interviewer: Tell us a little more about yourself

Katrina: My friends call me Kat or Katrina. But my real name is Catherine Ruth S. Catapia. When Raisa (owner of Erzullie) asked me if I wanted to model  her clothes I automatically said yes! I really like the feel of being in character in front of a camera, and pretend that I am somebody else and that there is no one else in that room except me and the camera.

Interviewer: Was Erzullie your first modelling gig? How did you feel during the shoot?

Katrina: Yes it was. I had fun during the shoot…real fun! When I was a kid my dad was my photographer and  director. As an unica hija, of course I’m my dad’s favorite… hehehe! He would tell me “oh Kat smile, o Kat do some poses”. My dad influenced me to be not shy posing in front of the camera.

When I was a kid I also liked to pose in front of the mirror and pretend that I am a model….. I confess that until now I still do that in front of my vanity mirror. Hey nobody said that only thin women can model and feel great! We PLUS SIZE women can too! WOOHOO!!!!

I was excited from the moment that Erzullie asked me to do a shoot for them. I love the make-up that the artist did on me. It was art! I really had fun that day! I felt that I was sexy even when I’m PLUS SIZE. Posing in front of the camera is different as it brings out another side of me, the sexy side… hehehe!!!

Interviewer: How did this experience change you as a person?

I appreciate what I have more. It’s more of appreciating things and seeing things from a different perspective now. This shoot taught me to dress like a lady. Before, I only liked to wear shirts and pants because I knew dresses and other girly stuff won’t look good on me, but this shoot made me realize that I can wear nice clothes without being shy.

Interviewer: Why do you think were you chosen as a model for Erzullie?

Interviewer: Would you do it all over again?

Katrina: Oh yeah definitely! They’ll get to do my hair, my eyebrows, some make up. I especially love the clothes!!! They fit on me!!! hehehehe!!! It was so much fun!!!

Interviewer: Do you have any messages for plus size women out there?

Katrina: PLUS SIZE WOMEN..Come out! Come out! Wherever you are… hehehe!!! Do not be afraid of what you have! Feel free to be your self and be sexy! Do it for yourself and not for others. Have fun! Life is too short to be wasted on hating yourself!

Photographer: Tin Lapid
Hair and Make-up: Acie De Guzman
Designers: Bernalyn Cuevas and Raisa De Guzman

Clothes: http://erzullie.multiply.com