As she walked down the stairs during her introduction as brand ambassador for Hebeskin’s CurvWhyt Coffee, Kai Montinola mesmerized everyone inside the venue, every inch of her screamed ingenue.

To say that she is a total package is an understatement. She possessed a face that can rival that of Helen of Troy, Montinola has what it takes to launch an armada of ships and yes, she can claim and own the copy that used to be associated with movie queen Susan Roces (+), “the face that refreshes.”

She is in one part innocent and wholesome. One part svelte and statuesque. One part regal bearing and gait. And all parts pretty, enjoying being a young miss of 18 seasons, and as a lyric of songs succinctly puts it, Montinola is “really a female, female.”

Adding more to her stellar wattage are her singing ability and gift of gab. No wonder all things rosy happens to her career and no one can rain on her beauty and goddess parade.

Endorsement

“I feel thankful. Thank you for choosing me to be a part of your journey into this world,” Montinola said. “I feel honored because to represent a product is already a big responsibility. But to represent Hebeskin, which empowers women and men and everyone in the Philippines, or maybe the world.”

Added the Gen Z ingenue: “As an endorser, not only am I representing the brand, but I also have to be their brand, what they stand for. I have to implement that in my real life in order to publicly endorse this product. So, very inspiring. I’m glad that I’m endorsing this product because it encourages me to be better.”

Hebeskin chief operating officer Jazmine Gonzales said during the launch: “Kai was our top choice to represent the brand. She is the clear standout.  She is the face and persona of CurvWhyt Coffee because she perfectly embodies it.  Beautiful inside and out. Confident. Intelligent. Graceful. A modern-day goddess.”

Up close

The most refreshing element during the time that Montinola had a brief yet delightful conversation with members of the entertainment and lifestyle media and bloggers was that she was by her lonesome with no looming presence of a handler or road manager who always comes off as protective to a fault, or personal assistants waiting for their cue or signal to whisk her off in case the probing gets too daring.

The manner she answered queries, direct to the point, without sugar coating, never abrasive and highlighted her asset of being a great conversationalist.

When I called out her name, she looked me straight in the eye and answered my question, “When did you realize that you are beautiful?” Montinola’s reply: “I have no recollection of what age I realized that I look beautiful. My childhood was a happy one. I’ve always felt secure and loved and I thank my family for that feeling. That gave me confidence. And I believe that confidence from within was the reason that I became beautiful.”

My follow-up question, “At what age did someone, or specifically a boy, tell you that he had a crush on you?” Montinola replied, with a twinkle in her eyes as she recollected, “Oh, that…. If I remember it right, I believe I was still in my toddler years when a boy told me that. Just like any girl that age, I did not take it seriously and went on with what I was doing that given time.”

She also said that not all days are sunshiny for her: “The struggle for self-esteem is real.  There are days when there are clouds over my head. But I know that those dark cloud days are normal. They are part and parcel of me being me.”

As for everyday struggles, she said: “It is okay because they are part of my humbling experiences. Life always gives us lemons. So, what I do is that I accept it, learn from it, and appreciate the wisdom it brings. I know that not everyone likes me. That is completely fine. In my head and heart, my constant reminder is that I am unique. I am my own person. I treasure and embrace my uniqueness.”

Her next big career leap will be in Child No. 82, a film in competition in this year’s Cinemalaya, the most prestigious Filipino film festival that showcases independently produced motion pictures.

With this endorsement, a starring role in a full-length movie and upcoming album, Kai Montinola, the Gen Z ingenue’s star is indeed rising, and a stellar one at that!