PARIS, France – Maritess Damian was strutting the runway in a fashion show in Singapore when the opportunity to work in Paris came her way.

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld approached her and asked her to model in Paris. She takes pride in following the footsteps of the first Asian supermodel Anna Bayle.

Like Bayle, she has built a name for herself and worked with respected European designers.

“I guess there is no Filipino after Anna Bayle who was able to do the ramp fashion shows and the work that I did as model here in Paris. I worked for almost everybody. But it was just work, nothing big time to talk about it,” said Damian.

Muse to many top designers

She modeled for fashion shows and fittings of haute couture designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert Givency, Jean- Loius Scherer, Gianfranco Ferre, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, and Gianni Versace, among others.

“Most of them have passed away but they are legends and very, very good designers. The new ones I worked with are Stella McCartney and Babouche,” explained Damian.

Armed with the right attitude, discipline, perseverance, prayers and an open mind, Damian managed to survive the cutthroat competition in the fashion industry.

“It takes a lot of discipline. When you are in a country where title is not a big deal, when you are in a place where competition is really tough, it’s no longer the beauty. It’s the ‘it’—the way you carry yourself,” she said.

She has this piece of advice for aspiring models: “No matter how famous you are in your country, when you come here you are just like everybody else. So always be humble. Don’t think you are big time. Never let it go to your head.’

Proud Pinay

Damian has always been proud of her roots. “I never denied my origin and when you are in this business, they always ask you where you are from. Even though I have French nationality now, I always say I’m from the Philippines. I’m from Manila. Whenever I tell them I’m Filipina, they tell me, ah yeah the shoes—Imelda Marcos. It’s the biggest comment in the fashion industry,” said Damian.

In 2001, after over a decade of modeling in Paris, she was forced to throw in the towel when her cancer recurred. Accustomed to working long hours, she was at a turning point in her life. Her indomitable spirit wasn’t broken but she had so many questions that didn’t have answers.

“I kept on writing and writing, and there was always the cross, the key and the heart. I said, what is this? The third day, I had answer and I was just drawing jewelry. I told myself if ever I’m going to start working again, I don’t want to be stressed. I want to create something that will last, something that is real. I want to propagate the values and the good things that God gave me,” she explained.

‘Something lasting, something real’

From sartorial elegance on the catwalk she crossed over to designing beautifully handmade crafts. Her jewelry pieces which are a testament to her ingenious talent, hard work and unbending spirit depict spontaneity, nature and being one with self. Her signature designs are the key, the cross and the heart. 

Damian admits it now helps her business that she hobnobbed with the rich and famous in Europe during her modeling days. She gained a clientele of rich, famous and high society patrons which includes the likes of the former First Lady of France Danielle Mettirrand and Cecilia Sarkozy, ex-wife of President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Showing ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau the diamond-studded belt she designed for rock star Lenny Kravitz, she said: “I feel good because they come and they pay. The business is just an instrument for me to share the blessings of the Lord. I think this is a mission. My clients come here because there is something special. They see the bond between the product and the creator and it is reflected in the pieces. It’s very fulfilling.”

Fighting the Big C

She continues to fight cancer but she said as long as she has the strength, energy and the creative juices flowing in her body she will not stop.

“When you think cancer is big, you become too small. Cancer is too small for me. It’s just under my feet. I’m bigger than cancer. I will overcome it. It’s all in the mind. My doctor tells me it’s the last stage but until God tells me it’s your time, I will never close my eyes. ‘Till the day that I can still talk and share I will do it,” she said.

She wants to be a living testimony to Filipinos that there is no elusive dream for a persevering soul.

“Marami po akong pinagdaanan sa buhay -- struggles, trials, persecution. But all those became my inspiration. Nobody helped me to become a model or to come here in Paris. My career, my business, it’s all my sweat. I just believed that if something good is for you it will happen,” she said.