Melanie Marquez

I was happily talking to Gina, Yaya of one of the basketball students at Basketball Training at Belasco Unlimited Skills Academy (BUSA).  

Me: Is that his mom?

Gina: Opo. (Yes)

Me: Ang tangkad no! Model ba sya? (She's tall! Is she a model?)

Gina: Si Melanie po.

Me: Melanie Marquez?

I didn't hear Gina's answer, I stood up to ask the tall woman if I can play basketball with her. I said, "Hi, can I play basketball with you?" The tall woman turned around and replied,"Yes?". I was speechless, I didn't know it's Melanie Marquez! The next thing I know, I asked for selfie with her. It took a lot of shots before we fit into the frame because she's tall while I'm short. 

Melanie Marquez (Mimilanie Laurel Marquez-Lawyer), (b. 16 July 1964), is a Filipina personality development coach, actress, film producer, author, and celebrity endorser. She is a former beauty queen and model who won the 1979 Miss International beauty pageant in Tokyo, Japan, representing the Philippines. Marquez won a local beauty pageant competition when she was 15 years old, and the 1979 Miss International Pageant. Subsequently she took up a career in fashion, magazine, catwalk, and commercial modelling, was featured on national and international magazine covers, and toured Europe and the United States. In 1985 Marquez became the Face of the 80s winner in New York. In 1986 she was first runner-up in the Supermodel competition and was described as the "Most Glamorous Woman in Italy". In 2000 she was voted the "Most Beautiful Miss International Winner", and in 2005 was one of the 6 finalists in the Mrs. World pageant in India, representing the Philippines. Marquez is a modeling and image-enhancement coach. She trained Ruffa Gutierrez (Miss World 1993 2nd Princess); Charlene Gonzales (Miss Universe 1994 4th runner-up); and Miriam Quiambao (Miss Universe 1999 1st Runner-up). She has been a judge, coach, commentator, or host in beauty pageants, modelling contests, and talent-search competitions. Recently, she opened a modelling school for training models, beauty pageant contestants, and actors.[citation needed]

In a 2000 poll, Marquez was voted as the "Most Beautiful Miss International", and in the TV magazine show, Ang Pinaka (Top Picks), she was ranked the Philippines show business number one "most admired beauty queen". Marquez endorses, and is the face of, the Psalmstre line of beauty products.

(Source: Wikipedia)