Meet the Filipina Models of "Supermodel Me" Season 7

Through the years, Filipina models have made their mark on the international fashion scene. From Anna Bayle and Kelsey Merritt to Hannah Locsin and more, homegrown talents have built careers beyond the Philippines.

Today, a new generation of models is making its presence felt in the international fashion industry. Among them are Habie Mondido, Cathrina Torres, and Tatyana Austria, who recently represented the Philippines in the seventh season of Supermodel Me.

For the unacquainted, Supermodel Me is a multi-platform modeling competition franchise produced by Singapore-based Refinery Media. Its seventh season brought together 10 aspiring models from across Asia, including Habie, Cathrina, and Tatyana. The contestants hailed from countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The latest installment also marked the franchise's first foray into a mobile-first, vertical format. Across 50 micro-episodes, the contestants faced a series of challenges designed to test their versatility, adaptability, and range as models.

At the end of the competition, Habie emerged as the winner of Supermodel Me Season 7, finishing ahead of the other contestants.

In this exclusive, Preview speaks with the three Filipina contestants about their experiences throughout the competition, from the challenges they faced to the lessons they learned along the way.

After the production team expressed interest in having her on the show, Cathrina Torres underwent a video casting with the producers. “I just trusted myself through the process and thought, whatever happens, happens,” the London-based model mused. “And then, next thing I know, I’m flying from London to Singapore!”

Cathrina is a third-culture kid who has spent much of her life moving between cities and countries. “I have many homes,” she says. She spent much of her childhood between Caloocan and Manila before her family moved to Calgary, Canada, following her high school graduation. After signing with a modeling agency, Cathrina uprooted her life once again, this time moving to London to pursue a modeling career.

To date, her portfolio now includes work with international brands such as ASOS, Nasty Gal, and Helinox, as well as features in global magazine titles.

Her stint on Supermodel Me also gave Cathrina an opportunity to represent her home country on an international platform.

“Truly, it’s for the Philippines. For the people back home who can see themselves in my appearance, my color, my features, so they can feel inspired to dream big and believe that those dreams are possible for them too,” she shared.

What was your personal mantra throughout the show?

Cathrina: “What’s meant for you will be yours. If you didn’t get it, someone else needed it. Something better is in store.” 

What are some of the biggest lessons you learned from the competition?

“To trust my values and authenticity. There were moments during the competition when I wondered if I should be more aggressive or do certain things in order to win, even if they weren’t necessarily what I would do outside the competition. But it never felt right.

“Instead, I followed my instincts, stayed true to myself, and I believe things worked out really well for me. Though I wasn’t technically the winner, I feel like a winner knowing I performed my best and stayed loyal to who I am.” 

What would you say was the most memorable experience you had from the show? 

“Meeting the girls, getting to know them, and forming friendships and a real sisterhood [have been] the biggest takeaway for me. I know that sounds cliché, but whenever I look back, it’s the memories of our hangouts, sharing stories, laughter, tears, wardrobe, makeup, skincare tips, etc., that come to mind first.

“I’ve gone on trips with the girls after the show, hung out with them when they visit London or when I’m back in Manila. We stay in touch, and you can really see and feel the support from everyone even now, as we watch each other’s progress from miles away.” 

Tatyana Austria is fully living out a Hannah Montana fantasy of her own. A physiotherapist by profession and a former courtside reporter, the 22-year-old also leads a double life as a runway and commercial model.

“I can be your supermodel on TV today, but treat you as my patient in the rehabilitation department at the hospital tomorrow, or deliver impromptu lines as a courtside reporter while you root for your favorite volleyball team on weekends,” she shared.

For much of her life, Tatyana has been a go-getter willing to take on whatever challenge comes her way. Whatever path she pursues, she carries the same positive outlook into every endeavor. There’s a lighthearted energy to her that just comes naturally. She was, after all, christened by Cindy Bishop as the “Miss Congeniality” of her batch.

“If you focus on the work, stay true to yourself, and remain open to opportunities outside your comfort zone, what’s meant for you will eventually find you,” she says of her experience on the reality show. “Supermodel Me simply gave me more confidence to step into those opportunities when they do.”

What pushed you to join Supermodel Me?

Tatyana: “Models on TV have built this persona of being ‘unapproachable’ or ‘chaotic’ because of the decades of drama built by reality shows. I took that as a challenge to stick to who I am, and prove that you do not have to be a mean girl to make it in the fashion industry, no matter what happens on Supermodel Me.”

Which challenge really put your modeling skills to the test?

“I’ve got to admit that high-fashion photography has been a waterloo of mine since most of my modeling experience was built on runways and commercial work.

“While listening to the instructions from ‘Mother’ (our authoritative unseen narrator [&] judge) for the emotion roulette challenge, I thought it was a made-for-reality way of doing a VTR. Well, as it turns out… it wasn’t. The panel did note I was still performing like a commercial talent, but they needed editorial out of me.”

What would you say was the most memorable experience you had from the show?
“Nobody knew what the producers were planning for us the next day; none of the contestants knew what the others were thinking, and certainly, neither did I. The way I see it, I gave it my all, fiercely fighting for Filipino domination (cut-throat enough to take musical chairs seriously), but also didn’t want to put an ungodly amount of pressure on myself for a reality show.

“Real life goes on after this show. ‘Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,’ as Muhammad Ali would say.”

Habie Mondido is definitely a name to watch. At just 19 years old, the Filipina-Tunisian beauty has already established a presence on the runway. With four years of experience under her belt, she continues to expand her portfolio through commercial and editorial work.

Habie knows there’s still plenty of room to grow in her career. The young model remains eager to pursue new goals and learn along the way.

“I want to keep growing, aim higher, and hopefully inspire people who see themselves in me, especially those who have always stayed in their little bubbles, to not let their comfort zone get in the way of going after the things they want,” she reflected.

Habie has a strong understanding of what the profession demands. Body awareness, tenacity, and the determination to keep moving forward are among the qualities she brings to every challenge, all of which proved valuable throughout her time on Supermodel Me.

Winning a reality modeling competition is no small achievement, especially when competing against aspiring talents from across Asia. Claiming the title at just 19 marks a significant milestone in her career. Still, Habie remains grounded, with her sights set on establishing her name in the industry and taking on whatever comes next.

Congratulations on winning Supermodel Me S7! What was your initial reaction when they announced you as the winner?

Habie: “Thank you so much! Honestly, when they announced me as the winner, I wasn’t really able to process it in the moment. It was something I hoped for, but I honestly didn’t expect it. It was also my first time doing a competition like this, so it was definitely a tough experience for me.”

What does this win mean to you at this point in your career?

“Joining Supermodel Me somehow felt like a breakthrough for me, but also a test of how far I had come and how much I had learned as a model. At this point in my career, winning the competition gave me a bigger platform and, more importantly, more confidence in myself. 

“I think it can help me move closer to my goal of becoming an established model here in the Philippines. But I’m still 19, so I also want to take my time, keep learning, and explore different sides of the industry. I know I still have a lot to learn, and I’m excited to see where that takes me.”

Was there anything that the judges or your fellow contestants told you that stuck with you?

“‘It was never luck.’ I remember the panelists and Mother telling me that the moment I won, and it felt like something shifted in me… Since then, I’ve tried to carry the same mindset with me: pray, but still do your best. I can’t control every outcome, but I can control how I show up and how I handle whatever comes my way.” 

Photographed by Belg Belgica. Styled by Giselle Barnachea. Makeup by Christian Arapoc. Hair by Bryan Eusebio. Digital technician: Hallvard Cano. Photography assistants: Yobhel Valenzuela, Samantha Umali, and Ia Pangandian.