Photography DIX PEREZ
Videography ANDREW APUYA
Makeup JIGS MAYUGA
Hair JET BABAS
Fashion Styling BEA CONSTANTINO
Special thanks to ESTEE LAUDER for the makeup
By: Sherry Tenorio
Vanessa Matsunaga’s seemingly nondescript appearance upon entering our location shoot – clad in an unassuming black top, simple jeans, washed out sneakers and with a chewed-up lollipop in hand, – certainly belied her regal beauty. This was no effete beauty snob. Vanessa Matsunaga is the real deal, someone whose authentic beauty transcends borders and who sees beauty in all that the world has to offer.
Disarmingly beautiful, it was her intrinsic goodness however that permeated through the room and the people around her. From her endearing smile to her sincere gestures, ev
eryone had double and triple takes at Calyxta’s 2017 inaugural cover girl.
Once comfortable in the makeup chair, Vanessa started chatting about the wonderful time she had during her most recent visit to her home country, Brazil. With hints of delirious gladness radiating through her almond-shaped eyes (a facial feature that reveals her Japanese roots) she exclaimed, “We had an amazing time in Brazil especially that it’s the first trip that we took together with our baby, Isabella. But despite having a great vacation, whenever I’m in Brazil, I would miss the Philippines – my house here, my friends here.”
The gorgeous international model that became a mom last year added the ironic truth, “It’s getting quite crazy, I know! Because when I’m here in the Philippines naman I would get homesick, and miss Brazil. If only I have superpowers and put these two places together, then that’s the best thing that would happen for me.”
Vanessa assimilates well to different cultures. Growing up in Rio de Janeiro to a Brazilian mother and a Japanese father, Vanessa learned to adapt with her mixed ethnicities, and even used that to her advantage. The striking stunner, whose features are both Asian and Latin, stood out in the international modeling scene. Ever since turning 18, her unique look landed her modeling jobs across 25 countries or so. She shared, “International models are always on the hunt for the right markets for each fashion season. And, so, we kept on moving.”
Things changed, though, when she was summoned to explore her life’s purpose in the Philippines. Vanessa explained, “I grew up in a very religious family. We believe that God has a purpose for all of us, and He would direct our paths. So, before we make any decision, we would always consult and pray about it. We moved to the Philippines because our prayers directed us here. That’s why despite being pretty settled in Hong Kong for about two and half years, we still went to investigate how the market would be here in Manila.”
True enough, she found her purpose two months after she landed in the metro. “My modeling contract was three months, but my ticket back to Hong Kong was to expire within a two-month period. But, I threw the ticket even before it expired. Why? Because I found my then-to-be husband.”
It was a huge decision for the 23-year old model, but Vanessa knew even then that her life would never be the same. She stopped traveling to find jobs. For the first time in her life, she entered into a long-term commitment (most of her relationships would last no longer than two months, she said), and married the Filipino photographer, Jay Sunga. She started a family, and she’s now a mother.
“I made this country my home when I decided to marry my husband. I knew I had to make a choice. When I started traveling as a model, I thought this journey is going to be temporary. I convinced myself that I’m going to travel the world, I’m going to make the most of it then I’m going back to Brazil and settle there. But, God has bigger plans for me,” Vanessa told Calyxta.
For Vanessa, true beauty resides not in a single place, but in many places within our essence. Maybe for Vanessa, it is this essence, or essensu in Japanese, that enables her to be beautiful and see beauty beyond borders.
Discover more about our first cover girl of 2017 in the weekly series of stories that would inspire you to follow your faith, fall in love, and explore beauty.
What does Vanessa Matsunaga look forward to in 2017?
Workout! I want to continue working out this year. I find crossfit pretty intense, so I like that kind of push. The last time I went to work out was in 2013. My husband has it on record on Instagram, and he always rubs it on my face. So, I want to finally give it a go this year.
What do you like most about the Philippine culture?
I love the Filipino food. I eat tinola because I love sayote. But my all time favorites are crispy pata and gising gising!
What part of you is Brazilian? What makes you Japanese?
I was always very outspoken and that’s the Brazilian side of me. I guess that the Japanese part of me shows in my discipline, love for nature and respect for all living things.
Cliché as it may sound but the old adage ‘home is where the heart is’ certainly holds true for our endearingly beautiful Calyxta Girl, Vanessa Matsunaga. In the first part of our weekly series with her, she revealed that her choice to make the Philippines her home was highly influenced by her decision to build a family with her would-be husband, Jay Sunga. It seemed like a whirlwind romance to some, but Vanessa knew that she found her true love. She said with firmness in her voice, “I believe that if I don’t want to marry the person then there’s no need to be together with him for a long time.”
So, she started making a home in this country. Her now-husband Jay proposed after five months of dating then they got married in the latter part of 2010, and waited until the year 2015 to bear a child. With unabashed candor, Vanessa told Calyxta, “I wasn’t ready to become a mother then. I was only 23 years old, and I knew I wasn’t mature enough to raise a human being. It’s a huge responsibility so I wanted to be the best version of myself before I raise a child. Well, God knows everything so we were blessed with our precious daughter at the best timing.”
A lot of changes happened to this statuesque model when she gave birth to her beautiful Isabella. She quipped happily, “I’m not in the same size as before, but I’m embracing it with grace. I used to repeat the comments about my appearance in my head, but now they don’t really matter anymore.”
Furthermore, Vanessa found out that for mothers like her, time is gold. She shared while smiling, “I think that the biggest change is that time becomes more precious. I’m a very hands-on breastfeeding mom so I can only do something for myself when she is asleep.” She continued with laughter now, “It’s been crazy! There were times when she was a newborn when I’d think of her even when I was showering. So, I’d stop in the middle of shampooing, step out of the shower, and check if she was crying or something.”
Although she isn’t able to do most things as before, Vanessa makes sure that she wouldn’t slack on one major essential: taking care of her skin. With a gorgeously motherly glow, she revealed to us her secret. “I took care of my skin a lot especially when I was pregnant. I’m sure genetics would play a big part but I know that the bigger portion comes to what you can work on. So, I had this conscious effort on my skin care. To avoid stretch marks, I would regularly put lotion, and I would really control myself from scratching my tummy despite the itchiness. It takes a lot of discipline and self-control, but it’s all worth it.”
Yet despite feeling settled in her home in the Philippines, Vanessa admitted that she still feels homesick especially so that her brother and father are still based in Brazil. She admitted, “My heart is torn most of the time.” To ease her yearning for her hometown, Vanessa would cook Brazilian food. At the moment (during press time), her mother is here in the Philippines to visit her family. Vanessa’s father would follow in March just right in time for Isabella’s first birthday.
With her life and her family’s life shaping up in this country, could she consider the Philippines her final stop? Vanessa concluded, “For I can say that. My life is here. I made that decision a long time ago, in 2010. It’s a huge decision, and I don’t regret it at all.”
2017 is Vanessa’s year!
Aside from being fulfilled with motherhood, Vanessa also continued in furthering her career in the Philippines. The year 2017 starts with an amazing promise of blessings for this stunning beauty.
Modeling. “This year, I’m going back to modeling. I love modeling so this is really exciting for me. I’m going to start doing commercials. I’ve signed a few endorsements, and I can’t wait to start.”
Designing. “Last year, I developed a small collection of fashion pieces for Ava.ph. This year, I’m collaborating with them again. This time, I will be exploring with them the creation of jewelry pieces using cultured (non-mined) diamonds that aligns with the advocacy that I support against the mining of diamonds illegally. We’re designing a collection, and I’m sure it’s going to be pretty.
Beauty Ambassador. “I will continue being a brand ambassador for Estee Lauder. I love everything about the brand especially on how they understand the needs of women.”
Restaurateur. “I’m thankful that my husband and I got into this business. It’s amazing how people embrace this part of my culture. At Naxional, all the Brazilian recipes are from my mom! So, it’s like a piece of home that I get to share with my friends here in the Philippines. We’re having talks between us partners, and if everything goes well, we’ll be expanding this 2017.”
Supporting PAWS. “I also continue supporting the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). Whenever they need support, I’m there. I grew up with my mom’s advice that if it were hard for you to love an animal that did not do any harm to you, then it would be more difficult for you to love another human being. So make sure that you give respect to all kinds of life. You have to respect life in general, and that’s what my mom has always told us. Treat everything with respect.”
In every aspect of her demeanor, it is evident that this five foot eight inch tall Brazilian-Japanese stunner has been trained as a model. From her relaxed elegance in front of the camera to her remarkable grace behind-the-scenes, this Calyxta Girl lives her craft impeccably.. Vanessa also understands that her job requires her to fully immerse herself in her “tools of the trade” – makeup, skincare and all things beauty.
“As a model, my skin faces a lot of makeup, and it gets frustrating for the skin to go through these loads of makeup. And, traveling gives a lot of effects on the skin. So, I learned to be more disciplined in taking care of my skin,” the gorgeous Estee Lauder brand ambassador told Calyxta.
Her beauty secret? Vanessa gladly answered, “I know I should drink lots of water to keep my skin fresh and hydrated. But, I hate the taste of plain water. Instead, I drink lots of buko juice. It’s my drink!”
Also, she swears by her skincare regimen: “I always make sure that I remove my makeup, and have a clean face
before going to sleep. Then, after cleansing, I apply toner, Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment Lotion and Advanced Night Repair (ANR) Serum from Estee Lauder. After which, I apply the moisturizer my face requires at the time. You can’t always use the same face cream because the skin changes due to different factors, so I don’t use a single moisturizer.”
Vanessa added, “And, sleep! It’s very important part of a beauty regimen that I don’t get a lot anymore. I used to sleep ten hours straight, and now, where is that?,” the model-now-mom quipped with laughter.
Her lifestyle may have changed, but Vanessa’s commitment to keeping herself pretty (she still works as a model) remains. Though she now carries a diaper bag all the time, she makes sure that her purse would have a vanity kit filled with travel-sized makeup including a BB cream, lipstick, and sometimes a concealer or a La Mer eye cream only when her eyes need a really good push from a long night.
To cap off Calyxta’s beauty minute with Vanessa, she left a charming note for all women: “Be confident with how you look. Loving yourself is the key to being beautiful.”
In our previous cover stories about our January girl Vanessa Matsunaga, she has shared her tale of wandering from countries to countries while searching for the most appealing modeling gigs. She has also told Calyxta of how she decided to stay in the Philippines when she moved here with her brother (now a famous television personality in the country), Daniel Matsunaga.
Her story is endearing for it is filled with faith, love and family. But despite the charm of her newly found life in the Philippines, it has not been an easy feat. For, how does one acclimatize to a new society? Does one change her looks, her language and accent, her ways of life, her tastes in food or her manner of dressing?
Vanessa answered, “It wasn’t easy. I was quite settled in Hong Kong back then. I thought my stay in the Philippines would be short so I didn’t prepare much for a total adjustment. But I found the perfect solution in fitting in – I made friends with Filipinos. And, boy, that’s the best way to experience this country!”
Since she has built friendships with locals (Filipinos), she has since adopted the language. She would quip in Tagalog words from time to time. She would crave for Filipino food, as well, like kare-kare and gising-gising. She would also favor the Philippines over Brazil, at this point in time.
From Rio de Janerio to the world, the half-Brazilian, half-Japanese beauty has met and worked with people of various ethnicities, and has been exposed with countless lifestyles and traditions. Yet despite all these, the Philippines has still wowed her. She explained, “Of course, each country would have its bad sides and good sides. I can’t say that the Philippines is perfect – we have terrible traffic problems here. But, what really struck me was the kindness of the people. Filipinos are so genuinely nice.”
“I also like how Filipinos just keep on being positive. No matter what hardship fate throws at them, they’d just laugh it off, and still think that something good shall come out of it. And, most importantly, Filipinos are family-oriented,” she continued.
Vanessa knows that all the love she has for the country is reciprocated. She may not sound, look or behave like an ordinary local, but in her heart, she is one true Filipina. “The Filipinos have really embraced me. I feel all the love. Even though the rates we get as models are comparatively lower in the Philippines than in other countries, working here is much better because of the people I work with who shows respect for each other. In other countries, I made money, yes, but here I gained friends and family,” she concluded.
Vanessa Matsunaga’s advice to expats who think of settling in the Philippines
Show respect, and stop comparing places. Each place shows its own beauty and flaws. So respect, and learn to adjust. Enjoy your time in the Philippines because it’s so nice to get to know other cultures. And, don’t waste your time. Eat Filipino food, and be friends with Filipinos.
