KYLA FERNANDEZ: COVER STORY
by Lionel Valdellon

published in CHANNELS : DECEMBER 1999: COVER STORY

She turns to me and says, "Driven." Five minutes later, she tells me, "Inconsistent." We all break out into laughter. We are looking for a single adjective for Kyla Fernandez, model, 21 years old, and have yet to come up with a satisfactory description. Fun, energetic, strong-willed and independent all fit, but not perfectly. Kyla blurts out, "I can't help it, I'm a Gemini! One second I'm this, the next, I'm that." It's her mother who finally comes up with the perfect word. Free-spirited.

A quick rundown of her career reveals a teen dream: saleslady gives her an application form for Cinderella, she models for them, models for 2 months in Singapore, joins CalCarrie's International modelling agency, gets a major break with the SMB TV ad ("I don't wear designer dresses"), becomes a VJ for EMC (Entertainment Music Channel), does a recent Rejoice commercial. And the list is just beginning.
___Her schedules are finally so hectic, she's booked for weeks on end. No more moping at home, complaining about not doing anything. "I am getting recognized finally, after modeling for quite some time. But I'm not really into that fame and fortune stuff. I just want to be recognized for what I do, and that I'm good at what I'm doing …"

But more than that, the idealist in her shines through when she starts talking about one of her biggest peeves: the objectification of women in media. "It's degrading! It would be nice if women were recognized as equal to men, as more than sex objects. A lot of actors are having a hard time, especially actresses who don't want to do bold films. Women are seen as commercialized beings…they can be bought.
___"Let me tell you this story. My dad's friend was playing golf with this other person. They were talking about the SMB commercial. I'm being seen right now as someone following in the footsteps of Ina (Raymundo) and Rachel (Lobangco). Anyway, my dad's friend told his companion that he knew me and my family, and that I'm not the type of person who would get into those things. And his companion goes, 'Well she can be bought. If she were given a million to do a bold film she would probably do it.'
___"It does hurt me that people would think that of me, although they don't know me. I feel that it's my obligation to break that mold, that stereoype."

That being said, she quickly admits to being idealistic, and realizes she can't change the world just like that. All she can do is improve herself, live a good life, not step on other people's toes. "Hopefully I just want to inspire people through my life. Because I did come from very humble beginnings, you know."
___She goes on to talk about politics and war, auras and meditation, skipping topics like a music video skips through scenes. It's fascinating and a bit dizzying. But never a dull moment. It's like the way she lives her life…intensely.
___She shares, "I just want to experience of what life has to offer. Eventually I just want to get married, have two kids, a house by the beach and let go of what I have, for my family. It will be their time to grow. That's why I want to live my life now. Am I making ANY sense at all here?"

Dollars and sense, baby.

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