MEGA Young Designers Competition (YDC) was created by Sari Yap, founder of the MEGA Publishing Group and EIC of MEGA magazine, to highlight the immense talents of aspiring Filipino designers. She envisioned a gathering of creative minds that can bring Philippine fashion to the runways of the world.

The competition opened doors for countless designers to find their niche and establish their names in the industry. As the new season of YDC officially begins on November 26, 2011, MEGA looks back and highlights past designers who have been part of the competition.

Russel Villafuerte, winner of the 9th edition of YDC, shared, “It’s such a great privilege to be part of that elite group of top designers in the country who joined YDC.” Something for viewers to look forward to, Russel revealed his experience. “You get to see a lot of things in the challenges like making gowns and couture in just 8 hours!”

For the first female designer winner of YDC, Vanessa Ang was happy to mention that YDC opened a lot of doors in her career. “I got to meet a lot of people and got invited to all these fashion events that introduced me to different people and provided me with more knowledge on the industry.”

Dubai based Furne One – who was part of the first YDC competition – has already made an international mark with his designs. International celebrities Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj are some of the artists who have already worn his outfits in various occasions.

Other notable fashion figures who joined the competition are some of the Philippine’s most revered designers like Rajo Laurel, Raoul Ramirez, Mich Dulce, Ivarluski Aseron, Chris Diaz, OJ Hofer, Patrice Ramos-Diaz and the internationally acclaimed Veejay Floresca to name a few.

The question is, “Who is the next?”

It is through fashion that designers tell their story of inspirations and creations. The highly anticipated YDC constantly looks for designers who have fresh and innovative concepts to prove that they deserve their needed break in the industry. Watch once again as the passion, aesthetic and skills of 18 new breed designers unfold in the 3rd season of MEGA’s Young Designers Competition.

Catch Generation MEGA Season 3: MEGA Young Designers Competition every Saturday starting November 26, 2011 at 7pm, with replays on Sundays at 10am, only on ETC.

Aspiring Designers Compete Once Again for the 10th Edition MEGA Young Designer’s Competition originally appeared on Starmometer on November 24, 2011.

MEGA Magazine was the pioneer for glossies in the country. It has shared with the public a lot of firsts that are all nothing short of inspiring. It was MEGA that pushed the envelope in actualizing the potentials of young fashion designers through the Young Designer’s Competition that gave rise to famous designers like Rajo Laurel, Veejay Floresca and Mich Dulce among many others. In 2010, the 18 year-old tradition was made more exciting by taking on a new format—MEGA conquered the boob tube with Generation Mega Season 1: The Young Designer’s Competition, a reality TV show that featured the 18 designers where Russell Villafuerte emerged victorious.

Sealing its glory as the standard for Filipino media excellence, MEGA returns with yet another offering that will make another history. Fashion Crew: Gen M Season 2 aims to discover five talented individuals whose skills are vital in putting together a fresh, forward and artistic fashion editorial for the magazine. As the brainchild of Mega Publishing Group’s president and CEO and MEGA Magazine’s editor-in-chief Sari V. Yap, the newest TV show is set to change the landscape of the fashion industry.

A pioneer in every sense of the word, Ms. Yap will be one of three resident judges who will determine who among 60 aspirants will be given the rare opportunity to be the next big names in the fields of hair styling, makeup, fashion styling, modeling and photography. Ms. Yap has always been known to be a trailblazer and an advocate of world-class Filipino talent. It all began when she defied the odds and mounted the Philippines’ first glossy fashion magazine, which has since paved the way for the glossy magazine industry in the country. She has received numerous awards in recognition of her work. Joining her are acclaimed fashion designer Avel Bacudio and top model Raya Mananquil, who were both part of Gen M’s first season.

Started his fashion career at a tender age of 17, Mr. Bacudio worked his way up, using his talent and his passion for the craft. He is now the executive creative director of a well-known garment company, where he focuses on fashion forecasts and product development, in the hopes of making fashion accessible to every Filipino. Currently, he is working on his own denim and underwear line, which he aims to launch this year.

Ms. Mananquil is among the most visible models today. Aside from gracing the spreads of top fashion magazines and being on countless billboards as an image model for different brands, she is also a lifestyle columnist for one of the leading broadsheets in the country. It is no wonder she a lot going on as she was an honor student at the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She has also been a radio DJ,a veteran PETA pal promoting vegetarianism, and she is also the first certified integral yoga instructor in the Philippines.

Apart from Yap, Bacudio, and Mananquil, a guest judge will come aboard the panel every week. Executive creative director Suki Salvador, deputy editor Meryll Yan, Maybelline’s chief makeup artist Archie Tolentino, and noted hair stylist and TV host Borge Aloba will provide assistance to the hopefuls as mentors throughout the season.

With leaders at the helm, there is no doubt that the search will produce the industry’s next movers and shakers.

MEGA Fashion Crew Gen M Season 2 airs every Saturday nights at 7:00pm, on ETC. Catch the replays every Sunday at 10am.

Season 2 of ‘MEGA Fashion Crew’ Airs on ETC originally appeared on Starmometer on August 5, 2011.

Fresh from winning Sharon’s Search for the Next Female Pop Superstar, releasing her debut album and topping Astro Vision’s music sales chart, there’s really no way than up for Star Power grand winner Angeline Quinto.

As you can see, she is on the cover of Mega Magazine’s April 2011 issue which is now available nationwide in bookstores and magazine outlets!

Other interesting topics inside the “Big Fashion Issue” of Mega Magazine include “Over 200 Hot Summer Looks”, “Fashion Celebs Report!”, “Let Birth Order Pick Your Perfect Mate” plus the annual list of the magazine’s “10 Most Stylish Women.”

Angeline Quinto is on the Cover of Mega originally appeared on Starmometer on March 30, 2011.

After covering Cosmopolitan Philippines, Lovi Poe got another fashion shoot and this time for Mega Magazine which is also for the month of March.

If she’s wearing a two-piece swimsuit on Cosmo, the 22-year-old actress slash model dons a slinky smart casual summer dress on the cover of Mega. Snapped by Lope Navo, he and the styling team captured a look on Lovi that is both chic and elegant.

Another Kapuso star is featured inside this issue of Mega and he is none other than Machete star Aljur Abrenica. So expect some shots of Aljur’s chiseled body inside the magazine!

Lovi Poe – Mega March 2011 Cover originally appeared on Starmometer on March 1, 2011.

Nanette Medved is known for her role as “Darna” in the 90s and she also starred on films like “Hiram na Mukha”, “Sa Kabila ng Lahat” and “Biktima.”

She is happily married with businessman Chris Po.

Other features inside MEGA February 2011 issue include “Icons Interviewed”, “Over 200 Iconic Styles and Buys”, “Get Your Fix”, “19 Years of Fashion Beauty and Success” and more!

MEGA February 2011 issue is now available nationwide wherever magazines are sold!

Nanette Medved-Po is on the Cover of MEGA February 2011 Issue originally appeared on Starmometer on February 6, 2011.

The cover story of MEGA’s latest issue has this pitch: “The reality tv star takes on a superceleb transformation.” And Melai looks elegant and edgy at the same time in her black number on her cover photo. What a way to start the year.

Credits to the style team for the beautiful cover: Photography by Xander Angeles, Art Direction by Suki Salvador, Styling by Teej Nepomuceno, Makeup by Bobby Carlos, Hair by Bren Sales, Sittings Editors by Carla Casanova-Perlas (Text), Kim Reyes (Beauty), Angela Alarcon (Fashion) and Shoot Assistants Ning Hilario and Sarah Santiago.

If I’m not mistaken, this is Melai’s second fashion magazine cover. Her first was with Woman Today last November where she was voted as one of the 12 finalists in our 2010 Covergirl of the Year poll which was won by Angel Locsin for the same magazine. Melai placed 5th in the said poll.

Melai Cantiveros – MEGA January 2011 Issue originally appeared on Starmometer on January 1, 2011.

Venus has been a newsmaker this year from the time she was dethroned from her title as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2010 to becoming the first Filipina to place in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant after 11 years since Miriam Quiambao bagged 1st runner up honor in 2009.

The 3 major television networks in the country are now offering her a talent contract which she can consider after her reign as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe ends next year.

The December issue of MEGA also features the magazine’s annual list of the 10 Women to Watch. They are Andi Eigenman, Lovie Poe, Sassa Jimenez, Nicole Whisehunt, Vania Romoff, Sam Sadhwani, Pauleen Prieto, Maxine Syjuco, Olivia Claparols and covergirl Ma. Venus Raj.

MEGA December issue is now available wherever magazines are sold nationwide.

Venus Raj – MEGA December 2010 Cover originally appeared on Starmometer on November 28, 2010.

Other topics discussed in this issue are “Over 100 Must-Have Iconic Accessories”, “Trends To Wear in your 20s, 30s, 40s”, “Make Your Long Distance Romance Work” and more! Plus, find out on how to get a chance to win a new wardrobe worth P25,000.

MEGA Magazine October 2010 issue is now available nationwide wherever magazines are sold.

Charlene Gonzales Muhlach – MEGA October 2010 Cover originally appeared on Starmometer on October 11, 2010.

Ruffa is wearing Mango on the cover of MEGA’s “Big Fashion Issue.”

Featured in the said issue are “Over 200 Pages of What to Wear Now,” “Boost Your Cup Size from A to C”, “Master the Korean Art of Radiant Make-up”, “Change You Body in Just 30 Minutes a Day” and more!

Now available wherever magazines are sold nationwide.

Ruffa Gutierrez – MEGA September 2010 Cover originally appeared on Starmometer on August 31, 2010.

MEGA Magazine’s theme for the independence month of June is “Pledge Pinoy” and on the cover is national treasure Regine Velasquez. Regine is wearing a white shirt from Bench PinoyLab with the statement “Iniibig Ko ang Pilipinas Dahil Tayo’y World Class.” Who would have thought that Regine is just wearing a t-shirt for her top? It’s just one of the 50 ways to wear your national pride as this month’s special feature in the fashion magazine.

The June 2010 issue of MEGA is now available nationwide wherever magazines are sold.

Regine Velasquez is Proud to be Pinoy on the Cover of MEGA originally appeared on Starmometer on June 3, 2010.

MEGA also unveiled in this month’s issue their list of 10 Most Beautiful People in the Philippines for 2010. They are:

KC Concepcion
Agot Isidro
Maxene Magalona
Timi Gomez
Cris Albert
Mitzi Borromeo
Stephanie Kienle
Chicho Suarez
Joanne Zapanta-Andrada
Stephanie Zubiri

MEGA Magazine’s May 2010 issue with Sarah Geronimo on the cover is now available nationwide wherever magazines are sold.

Sarah Geronimo – MEGA May 2010 Cover originally appeared on Starmometer on May 3, 2010.

Marian Rivera is on the cover of MEGA Magazine’s 18th anniversary issue this February!

This is actually the third time that the primetime queen graced the cover of MEGA Magazine. The first was in January 2008 when Marian was tagged by the fashion magazine as one of the women to watch that year. The Darna star shared the cover with 9 other women including Angelica Panganiban.

The second time that Marian Rivera graced the cover of MEGA was last March 2008 for the magazine’s Spring edition. Here’s the said cover:

Because it’s MEGA’s anniversary issue, they made it a double-cover one. On the other side of the cover features Anne Curtis (to be featured on a separate post).

Marian Rivera is on the Cover of MEGA February 2010 Issue originally appeared on Starmometer on January 27, 2010.