The Philippine Star

A former Miss International winner is seeking a P13-million damage suit against a cosmetics firm for using her image in its advertisements without her consent.

In a complaint before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 96, Melanie Marquez alleged that Pureform Cosmetic Products used her photograph to promote their anti-aging placenta extract products.

She alleged that sometime in 2004 the owner of Psalmstre, a rival company of Pureform, contracted her services as endorser of New Placenta soap cream and lotion with her picture appearing in the labels of the products.

However, she alleged that without her consent and knowledge, Pureform advertised their products with her as endorser and their posters were all over Metro Manila.

"Likewise Pureform has caused the publication of its poster in the Women’s Journal showing that the plaintiff is the endorser of the Pureform beauty products such as soap, cream, lotion toner and papaya soap, thereby destroying her image as endorser of the Psalmstre product," the complaint said.

For using her image in promoting their products without her consent, Marquez is seeking P13 million in damages.

The court set the hearing of case on April 25.

Marquez was crowned Miss Philippines in 1979 and won the Miss International title for that year. She was chosen as New York Face of the ‘80s and was Super Model of the World finalist in 1985.

She was also chosen as the Most Glamorous Woman in Italy in 1986. – Perseus Echeminada