For a true-blue Preview girl, Kelsey Merritt needs no introduction. Way before she fronted our February 2016 issue, the 20-year-old model has been gracing our pages and at the same time taking our breath away with one glorious editorial after another. Now signed with Wilhelmina Models, Kelsey continues to impress us with her modeling chops—locally, as the face of Kashieca’s latest campaign and as the newest Maybelline girl.
Apart from being the model-of-the-moment, Kelsey is also a graduating student at Ateneo de Manila University. Below are 10 fun facts you need to know about this go-getter, as told by Kelsey herself!
1. “I have a sweet tooth! I can eat any dessert but my favorite has to be chocolate in any form.”
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
2. “In school, my go-to outfit is normally white sneakers, denim jeans, and a t-shirt. You can never go wrong with that!”
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
3. “I used to be captain of my volleyball team back in high school in Pampanga. If I hadn't started modeling, I would most probably still be playing volleyball.”
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
4. “I am a big Broadway fan. I'm obsessed with the whole Hamilton soundtrack right now. I would choose show tunes over pop music any day.”
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
5. “I don't like going out. I cannot last out longer than 12 midnight. Plus, I don't drink and I can't dance, so what's the point?! Haha! I would rather stay at home and read a good book than stay out late and get drunk.”
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
6. “The first thing I did after finding out that Wilhelmina's director wanted to scout me was to research if he was legit. Haha! It was too good to be true, so I had to make sure!”
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
7. “Traveling is amazing, but jetlag is the worst. I still haven’t gotten the hang of it. It hits me so bad that I always get tempted to take sleeping pills, but I try not to because it's not good for you and I don't want to be dependent on it.”
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
8. “I love advertising. I make sure that the majors I take in school are all related to advertising.”
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
9. "I'm graduating college this year. The title of my thesis is Be Brave Challenge: An HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign Promoting Testing and Addressing Self-Stigma Among Filipino MSM University Students, and I'm very excited because my thesis mates and I were nominated for best thesis!"
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
10. “My favorite Preview shoot that I've done is of course my February 2016 cover! But another one is when I flew to Palawan with the team to shoot an editorial. It's actually the same time Janine (Gutierrez) shot her Preview cover!”
IMAGE INSTAGRAM/kelseymerritt
UPDATED:
Kelsey Merritt made international headlines in 2018 when she became the first Filipina to walk the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. But it was only the beginning. After a few months, Kelsey joined Sports Illustrated's roster of Swimsuit Rookies. She's also caught the attention of both the local and foreign media like Teen Vogue, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle. She's on a roll and there's no stopping this Preview girl.
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