MARCH 31 - APRIL 6, 2018 ISSUE

EXCLUSIVE TELL-ALL INTERVIEW! “I told myself that I would never like to be comfortable. I like proving myself that I am worthy of everything that I get” SHINING BRIGHTLY With a positive outlook, determined soul, and hardworking attitude, Kisses Delavin remains a ray of light in the chaotic world of showbiz.

#InsideShowbizLovesKissesDelavin

ANGELU ZAFE WEB CONTENT WRITER RAMON GARCIA DIGITAL CONTENT HEAD

ART NICOLE VILLARUEL ART DIRECTOR BRIA CARDENAS MULTIMEDIA ARTIST DENNIS FLORORITA FINAL ARTIST

SPECIAL PROJECTS MARGA TUPAZ HEAD RED DE LEON ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

MARA MADRID, CHARLENE TY, ANDREA LAM, ANGELI MANABAT, LOUISE SICAT COPYWRITERS DEN FAJARDO, ALEXA MANLANGIT GRAPHIC ARTISTS BETTINA DE LOS REYES, JOSHUA ARGOSINO, CARMINA AGLIPAY MULTIMEDIA ARTISTS

CONTRIBUTOR

MARK NICDAO PHOTOGRAPHER ROSY MINA WRITER ERICA LUNA EDITORIAL ADMIN ASSOCIATE SUKI SALVADOR VICE-PRESIDENT — MAGAZINE & PRINT BUSINESS ARCHIE CARRASCO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

FOUNDER & CEO SARI YAP CHAIRMAN J. TIU FOUNDING CREATIVE DIRECTOR LORRAINE BELMONTE THE DREAMER SHINES

With a positive outlook, determined soul, and hardworking attitude, Kisses Delavin remains a ray of light in the chaotic world of showbiz. INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE A ray of sunshine is enough to awaken teen star Kisses Delavin. Just staring at the sun-kissed sky leads her to ponder life and realize a lot of things. She also derives inspiration from looking at the sun. In one instance, a fiery sunset view has prompted the dreamer in her to just keep going. This happened before she took the plunge to finally follow her dream of making it in showbiz.

“Nanonood lang ako ng sunset and sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘Gusto ko gagawa ako ng life na hindi ako mapapagod araw-araw gumising. Gusto ko gagawa ako ng life na feeling ko bakasyon.’ I need the courage to take risks to get the life I dreamed of. When I was 15, I realized na someday I will get the courage to try all the things that I want to try,” Kisses recalls to Inside Showbiz Weekly as her eyes widen with wonder and innocence.

“What I learned is that I was right that time when I took a leave of absence from De La Salle University because I wanted to try new things. It is easy to do what is prepared for you, kung ano ‘yung inisip sa iyo ng ibang tao na dapat mong gawin. If that’s not your dream, huwag mo itutuloy kahit sa tingin nilang ito ‘yung best job for you kasi you will never do a great job kung hindi mo ‘yun gusto.”

Three years later, taking that risk paid off for Kisses as she bagged a solo Making MEGA in Czech Republic stint as a celebrity who is credited as an actress, host, singer, and endorser. A glimmer of sunshine fires up Kisses, who is afraid of the biting cold, as she sets foot on Czech capital, Prague. “‘Pag dating ko ng Prague, the sun was up and everything was going my way. Parang nag-adjust ‘yung weather for me na parang sabi ni Sun, ‘Okay, sige, gusto ni Kisses ng a little bit warm. So sige, I will come up.’”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY MARCH 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE The former (PBB) housemate admits that she was so preoccupied with how she would battle the cold while striking poses in the photoshoot. She admits to feeling so relieved when she was welcomed by the sun in her first-ever overseas shoot. “In fact, sinabi ng MEGA team na first time nila makakita ng sun. So sabi ko, ‘Thank you so much, Lord.’ I felt less nervous. ‘Yung unang vibe palang na pagdating ko sa Prague, I felt inspired.”

GREAT ACHIEVEMENT

Things have come by quickly for the 18-year-old Kisses. She was the Miracle Daughter of Masbate in PBB Lucky Season 7 which began airing in August 2016. She emerged as the Second Big Placer in the Big Four which included Yong Muhajil, Edward Barber, and eventual Big Winner . She was then paired with fellow housemate Marco Gallo in the movie Loving in Tandem alongside MayWard. She has released a self-titled album which has turned Platinum, plus she has held an album launch at SM North EDSA Skydome and a solo concert at the KIA Theater. In both concerts, up-and-coming actor Tony Labrusca was a special guest. Soon, Kisses is set to be paired with VJ Donny Pangilinan in the movie Walwal and teleserye Playhouse.

“Overwhelming kasi nung una, parang too good to be true. Totoo ba ito? Pero habang nagtagal, hindi ko na siya naramdaman na overwhelming. Parang mas na-overwhelm na ako sa work na ‘Huy! Ang galing! May photoshoot! May taping!’ Doon na ako na-overwhelm sa work na ‘Yes! Ang saya nito kasi ‘yun ‘yung gusto kong gawin eh,” says the teen whose full name is Kirsten Danielle Tan Delavin.

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY MARCH 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE Despite having so many achievements in such a short span of time, Kisses reveals that Making MEGA holds a special place in her heart. “I’m still a nobody. Wala pa akong napatunayan sa showbiz but Making MEGA trusted me enough for this. So na- realize ko na no matter what I achieve in life, I will always be thankful for them. This is the turning point, the first solo print cover of my life. MEGA ‘yung unang naniwala sa akin,” she states.

“This is a really big achievement for me. Pero I’m that person that doesn’t want to settle because I told myself that I would never like to be comfortable. I just came out of a reality show last March 2017 and it hasn’t been a year tapos nagka-Making MEGA na ako. Opportunities from left to right came to me and masasabi ko lang na I feel honored. But at the same time, I like proving myself that I am worthy of everything that I get.”

CHASING THE SUN

Determined to do her best and make the MEGA team proud, she was hindered by one great obstacle: the cold weather. “The hardest part talaga ‘yun kasi weakness ko ‘yung lamig.” She recounts how temperatures dropped to almost negative when they reached a hilltop location. “Feeling ko maninigas na talaga ako kasi sobrang lamig talaga. First time in my life na ganun kalamig. ‘Yung isip mo sobrang game to work pero ‘yung katawan mo parang ‘Aaah!’ Hindi na siya okay, uwing-uwi na sa sobrang ginaw.”

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INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY MARCH 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE As she was shuddering, she noticed that the Making MEGA team members went on with their tasks as if it was not freezing. “‘Yung motivation ko na kung linalamig ako doon is na the rest of the team, kahit linalamig sila ay game na game sila. Parang hindi sila giniginaw.” She even talks about master lensman Mark Nicdao. “Matagal na matagal siya sa labas. I can feel that he’s really cold pero hindi niya pinapakita so na-inspire ako dun na he’s very professional kahit na sobrang lamig na lamig na siya.”

They were constantly on the move, especially since they had to catch the elusive sunlight. “Sobrang ikli na makikita mo ‘yung araw na lalabas. We need to hurry, so tumakbo agad kami sa coaster para magbihis. Nung nakabihis na, takbo naman sa ibang location na naka-heels.” The former Miss Kaogma and Miss Masbate Province was able to run and keep her poise in high heels despite the difficulty of traversing uneven paths.

It was a really tough time for the showbiz youngster. “As in grabe ‘yung ginaw. ‘Pag hihinga ako, parang nagiging yelo. Pero ‘pag sinabi mo sa sarili mo na ‘I can do this! Konti nalang. Walang mangayayari sa akin. Kaya ko pa ‘to,’ makakaya mo talaga. Kasi ‘yun ‘yung kailangan mo lang gawin, sabihin mong ‘You can do it.’”

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INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY MARCH 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Kisses goes on that Making MEGA has inspired her in more ways than one. Aside from their dedication, she marvels at the creativity and efficiency of the team members. “Nung nakita ko ‘yung photos, sa sobrang lamig ‘yun nalang ‘yung kakapitan mo na I’m doing this for these wonderful photos. Amazing! Talagang they get things done really fast. I noticed that people in MEGA value time. Na-amaze ako kasi parang lahat creative, lahat may kayang ibigay, and lahat hindi nagrereklamo. ‘Yun ‘yung maganda,” she recalls.

“‘Yung Making MEGA is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity kasi ‘yung shoot is abroad and then I am with really talented and creative people. Isa siya sa best experience na makukuha mo sa showbiz. I feel really honored na kasama ako sa exclusive group na nagkaroon ng Making MEGA like Ms. Anne Curtis and Ate Maine Mendoza. Not all the artists get that kind of opportunity, so happy ako.”

Kisses also talks about how enjoyable their shoot was. “I have so much respect kasi nakita ko kung paano sila mag-work. They joke around, they tell so much stories. Sobrang funny ng atmosphere. Magaan when it comes to work kahit pagod na pagod na ako. Everybody will always try to make me laugh and sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam.”

Apart from holding dear her experience of posing in many different high fashion pieces, Kisses says she will also cherish the little moments she shared with the Making MEGA team. “Isa sa pinaka-favorite moment ko is ‘yung in between the shoots, kumakain kami nang sabay-sabay. I will always treasure that kasi ‘yung tawanan, ‘yung lahat, lokohan nila. Kahit ‘yung mga terminologies nila ‘di ko maintindihan, I learned to understand it. Sobrang sarap ng mga times na ‘yun.”

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INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY MARCH2018 EXTENDED FAMILY

Kisses, who is an only child, was accompanied by her parents to Prague. She is very close to her parents from whom she draws inspiration, guidance, and strength. “I’m really proud that I have a really good relationship with my parents na feeling ko unbreakable ‘yun. ‘Yung relationship ko with my mom and dad para siyang all-in-one: parent, best friend, teacher, and adviser. I tell everything to them except siyempre ‘yung sa crush.” She adds bashfully, “Kahiya magsabi ng crush.”

Since she belongs to a small family, Kisses considers many others as family members, including her colleagues, friends, fans, and most recently, the Making MEGA team. “I feel really happy that they treat you like family. They care for your welfare. ‘Pag ginaw na ginaw ka, it’s okay for you to stop. Pero siyempre I didn’t want to stop. In return for their hard work, I really wanted na hindi magpahinga kahit ginaw na ginaw ako.”

She continues, “Nung nag-shoo-shoot na kami, I felt that they really care for you. More than the job, may care sila sa iyo and then naalala ko ‘pag nilalamig ako, hina-hug ako and then pinapainit ‘yung kamay ko. Ang sweet naman. In showbiz kasi you don’t get that every day. Kasi of course, showbiz is business so most people just care about business.”

She is already raring to work with the MEGA team again because of her memorable Prague experience. “Nakikita ko sa MEGA na family talaga. I felt that MEGA was really welcoming, and they treat me like a very important person kahit na ‘di naman ako Anne Curtis o Maine Mendoza. They don’t look at you as if newbie ka lang. They treat everyone fairly and I think that’s nice kasi respectful sila sa lahat. Na-inspire ako dun kasi I think isa sa pinaka-importante sa lahat ng nag-wo-work sa show business is ‘yung work ethics mo.”

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INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY MARCH 2018 TAKEAWAYS FROM PRAGUE

With a big grin on her face, Kisses mentions her lessons from her overseas shoot. “I feel like I absorbed so much of Prague that when I go back home, I will bring ‘Prague-ments’ with me. ‘Prague-ments’ of Prague,” she says with a chuckle. Firstly, she has realized that modeling for a high fashion magazine, and being a cover girl at that, is much more complicated than what she has perceived it to be. It is definitely not just like taking an outfit of the day (OOTD) photo that is Instagram-worthy.

“I love posing ever since I was a kid pero this taught me more on really posing for the camera. It’s more on angling yourself, making the clothes and products look good on camera. Ang gandang experience kasi not every celebrity can model. It’s really a skill. ‘Yung ibang tao kasi usually sinasabi nilang ‘Models lang sila.’ So ngayon, tumaas ‘yung tingin ko sa mga models kasi napakahirap ng ginagawa nila.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY MARCH 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE In addition, she has learned about the importance of interpersonal skills. “You should always take time to connect to people you work with kahit may mga bounderies ka sa puso mo. Napakagandang opportunity ‘yun na everybody is opening themselves up to you. So, you should do the same kahit na nahihiya ka or ‘di ka sanay. You should take the risk na mag-open up sa kanila kasi you will get so much more. The experience will be so much different ‘pag you let them into your heart.”

Finally, she talks about the merits of working extra hard. “Every beautiful thing comes with so much hard work. Lahat ng makikita nilang maganda na photos sa Making MEGA, dugo at pawis ng lahat ng nag-work doon. Ang hard work laging mag-pe-pay off kasi like sa Making MEGA, nagtiyaga at naghirap lahat sa kanila. Walang nag-lie low. Talagang lahat nag-work. So, ‘yung hard work na ‘yun, lahat nag- produce ng beautiful, powerful results.”

With her trademark sunny disposition, she concludes, “Thank you so much, MEGA, kasi sobrang nag-enjoy ako. Actually, it’s the best shoot that I’ve ever had in my life. There’s nothing like this. Walang makakapantay sa experience ko na ‘to. Thank you so much for showing me so much love. You really inspire me to be the best that I can be because you believe in me so much.”

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Words by Rosy Mina Photos from Mega Magazine

Special Thanks to Mega Magazine