New York Post features Kelsey Merritt ahead of Victoria’s Secret runway debut

Photo: @kelseymerritt Instagram.
Photo: @kelseymerritt Instagram.

“The thriller from Manila.”

That’s what the New York Post called Filipino-American model Kelsey Merritt in a full spread feature published yesterday.

Merritt shared a photo of the newspaper’s pages on her Instagram Stories and shared her delight about the feature in a post.

“I can’t believe I was on @nypost this [S]unday!! 😍 Thank you for featuring my journey,” the model said.

 

Tingnan ang post na ito sa Instagram

 

I can’t believe I was on @nypost this sunday!! 😍 Thank you for featuring my journey. Read the article on my bio 💕

Isang post na ibinahagi ni Kelsey Merritt (@kelseymerritt) noong

In the story, also available online under the title “Model asked for God’s help to land the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show,” Merritt talked about her experience auditioning for the global lingerie brand.

She actually prayed after trying out.

“I went to church and prayed,” Merritt said. “I said, ‘This is all in your hands now.’”

What does she do to prepare for this dream job? Apparently, she usually exercises twice a day, every day.

Gotta put in the work!

In the interview, Merritt also talked about her time at the Ateneo de Manila University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Major in Communication last year.

Apparently, she felt a little out of place in the school — known to be prestigious and posh — because of how she spoke English.

“I was insecure because [my classmates] were so posh,” she said.

“I was never comfortable. Whenever I spoke Filipino, they’d talk back to me in English . . . I was a little embarrassed about my English because of my accent, but [now I know] there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Merritt grew up in Angeles, Pampanga, a city about 2 hours away from Manila. Although she is half American, she strongly identifies as Filipino.

She shared this in a tweet in September saying in Filipino and English: “Pinanganak ako sa Pilipinas at lumaki ako sa Pampanga. Tinapos ko ang pagaaral ko sa Manila bago ako lumipat sa US last year. Mas Pinoy pa dugo ko kesa sa mga ‘pure’ na hindi pa nakatapak sa Pilinipas (sic). I love my country and I’m proud of where I came from.”

This translates to: “I was born in the Philippines and grew up in Pampanga. I completed my studies in Manila before moving to the US last year. My blood is more Filipino than those who are ‘pure’ but have not set foot in the Philippines. I love my country and I’m proud of where I came from.”

Her tweet was posted after critics said that she did not look Filipino enough to represent the country in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Still, many are excited for her to walk alongside iconic models like Adriana Lima and Behati Prinsloo.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will be held in New York on Nov. 8 and will be available online on Dec. 2 (Dec. 3, Monday for the Philippines).



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on