Yes, No, Maybe

Four years ago, I was one of the stylists working on the Bench Fever underwear show.
One of the challenges I faced was how to bring out the best in each model. At first sight you might not have casted Charisse at the go-see

But I saw that even though she had lifeless hair and sparse eyebrows, she had nice features and a perfect body.
The solution: a baseball cap, a ponytail and a funky top over Bench underwear.

Though I'm not styling this year, I'm participating in the Bench underwear olympics this year by covering events and watching the show. Yesterday they let me sit in the final go-see to help select the models for this year's show.

For a few hours I got to escape the heat for the aircon at the Edsa Shang ballroom was full-blast. Pity the undressed models in the waiting room. I had a fun time with the panel which included Bench head stylist Noel Manapat, architect Miguel Pastor, top model Georgina Wilson, Arsi Baltazar of GMA Artist Center, Mr. Ben Chan, (no explanation necessary), director Robby Carmona, talent manager Keren Pascual, and Bryan Lim, Vice President Suyen Corp. (Not to mention, the dimsum merienda was yum!)

Georgina Wilson will be joining the underwear show this year. She sat next to me so I saw her scores, hehe.
Let's just say her choices had to pass through the eye of a needle.

Scoring was done as Y (yes), N (no) or M (maybe)—but Noel said "M" means 'mask', meaning puede na rin.
I said, puede bang "H" for 'hipon'? It is possible to look chica even with a mask, right Jujiin?

The model wannabes came from as far as Yorkshire, UK to Lucena City.
When the model has a foreign accent, plus 10 points from me. If regional accent, minus 2, jeje.
Only a few models had a unanimous Yes score, including "yes to death" as coined by Arsi and Georgina.

while some had a dismal unanimous "No" with a pair of "(are you) serious?" marks.
Seriously a couple of applicants I felt were Mr. Bean, either joking us or being dared to audition, a la William Hung. My jaw started to hurt after a while as I was trying to stop myself from laughing at my seat mates' comments. Not saying I am innocent! I made comments too.

Let's check out the guys. Here's a pair of twins from Persia.

These guys stripped onstage. At right is my BFF's nephew Enzo Pineda.

I saw this guy fully clothed after the go-see. He's cute even with clothes.

It's Sam Fogg

Looks like Tom Cruise on Cherifer

I was in the loo when the guy on the left came out. Georgina gave him a Yes.

Almost James Yap

and nearly Keempee

Ok this guy was from Yorkshire, so plus 10!

There were not enough girls, but I don't see a problem as the Bench underwear show is really about the guys (no offence)!
Manila ain't Brazil you know, where you could cast 120 models on the beach.
Luckily some Brazilians saved the day.