PEP: Solenn Heussaff talks about dealing with criticisms and FHM cover stint

"Dream project" para kay Solenn Heussaff ang programa niyang Fashbook na mapapanood simula ngayong gabi ng Miyerkules, March 2, at 10 p.m., sa GMA News TV (Channel 11). Mahilig manood si Solenn ng foreign makeover programs ngunit kakaiba raw ang kanyang show kung ikukumpara sa mga ito dahil hindi lang panlabas na aspeto ang kanilang babaguhin kundi maging ang emotional at psychological mindset ng isang indibidwal. "We have a team of make-up artist, stylis, and then a life coach. I think the life coach is the same psychologist we had for Survivor [Philippines Celebrity Showdown]. "Then, basically people can write to us if they want a makeover. But we also take into consideration their story. Not just anyone who wants a makeover—we want a story to go with it. "So they can write to us at our Facebook page and then we give them a makeover inside-outside, and then we have a coming out party for their family. It's exciting!" kuwento ni Solenn sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at ilan pang reporters kagabi, March 1, sa GMA Network Center sa Quezon City. CITING FROM EXPERIENCE. Kung pagmamasdan si Solenn ngayon ay hindi mo aakalain na naranasan din pala niya ang maging tampulan ng tukso during her much younger years. "When I was younger, I was big. I guess it was more like baby fats and then I got really bigger, and then until the age of 13 people would call me Free Willy in school," kuwento ni Solenn. "In the beginning I'd pay attention and cry. And the more I cry the more they would insult me and then one day, I just decided [that] if you don't pay attention to them then they won't feel the need to insult me. So, they stop after a while. Malaki ang naging epekto ng mga pambubuskang ito pagdating sa kanyang self-esteem. Kaya naman nung panahon na umalis papuntang abroad ang kanyang mga magulang ay sinubukan ni Solenn na mansanas lang ang kainin sa isang buong araw para makapagbawas ng timbang na naging dahilan naman para maospital siya ng ilang araw. "I did it the stupid way and I wouldn't recommend anyone to do it that way," pahayag ni Solenn. Ngayong nasa showbiz na si Solenn ay patuloy pa rin niyang napapakinabangan ang mga life lessons na natutunan niya noon. "I just learned the more people, like even on Twitter, the more people say 'Ah, Solenn you're like this, you're like that. Why are you entering showbiz and you say you wouldn't?' "If you reply to them the more they'll send you hate notes. But if you don't pay attention, after a while they get sanay and then they just switched to someone else. "Parang I learned that when I was on the chubby side, the more I pay attention to them, the more they'd want to call me Free Willy. It's like giving them their time of day," ngiti ng multi-talented make-up artist turned actress. (Ang Free Willy ay ang 1993 Hollywood hit movie na kung saan ang pangunahing bida ay ang isang dambuhalang whale.) FHM COVER BABE. Si Solenn ang cover girl ng FHM Philippines ngayong buwan ng Marso at hindi siyempre maiiwasang mapag-usapan ang kanyang naging experience during the shoot. "It was my first with FHM and I was a bit nervous. But the team I worked with, the photographer, hair stylist, make-up artist—I know them very well and I trust them with what they give me. "Even before we shot it, we had a meeting and we talked what I could and couldn't do. I felt safe naman and they're really nice. It was a fun shoot," sabi ni Solenn. Originally ay beach setting daw ang gusto ng FHM team subalit nagpahayag ng pag-aalinlangan si Solenn sa dahilang pangkaraniwan na nga namang gamitin ang dagat bilang background sa isang sexy pictorial. Sa bandang huli ay napagkasunduan na sa Diliman, Quezon City area na lang gawin ang photo shoot. Ang napiling cover picture ay nagpapakita kay Solenn na nakasuot ng two-piece swimsuit habang nasa isang horse stable. "On the picture, it looks okay. Pero the whole time I was like 'Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!' The horse is biting me pa because they put lotion on me so he's like smelling my body," natatawang kuwento ni Solenn. Pero sa pangkalahatan ay masaya naman si Solenn sa naging resulta ng photo shoot. "I'm really open to a lot of things as long as it is done in a classy way," pahayag ni Solenn. - Bong Godinez, PEP