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“Makulit, maingay, siyempre mabait. I’m hot. Ha ha!” is how Zara Lopez throws an answer to that hackneyed talk-show question, “So [insert celebrity first name here], who is [insert celebrity full name here]?”

We asked it anyway, but didn’t quite get the job applicant-esque response we were expecting. Rather than saying “I’ve been a Viva Hot Babe for years now and I often do out-of-town shows these days, she blurts something that ends with suspiciously ends with a “Ha ha!”

Partly, it’s our fault. Had we been friends with her since she last appeared as an Online Babe last year, or when she first graced the magazine a couple of years back, then we would have expected a jolly reply as the one that just hurled our way.

Because 25-year-old Zara is that—cheerful, friendly, sweet, malambing. All adjectives that look nicely beside “hot.”

You seem all worked up for this shoot. What keeps you busy?
Puro out-of-town shows kami ng Viva Hot Babes ngayon eh, wala kami masyadong appearances sa TV. Ang natira na lang kami nina Katya Santos, Jennifer Lee, Maui Taylor. Yung iba nasa States na, like si Ella V. Si Myles, nasa Canada, si Asia Agcaoili nasa Europe.

Why choose Hot Babedom over a quiet, private life like your peers?
Iba yung dating sa tao ng pagiging Hot Babe, eh. Pag sinabing Hot Babe, hot ka. I’m having so much fun doing what I do now.

Are there any instances you realized, “Wow Hot Babe ako.”
Of course. A lot of times. Kasi sa sarili ko hindi ko naman in-e-expect na magiging artista ako. Sobrang proud ako sa sarili ko na narating ko kung nasaan ako ngayon. Yung ibang friends ko sobrang tuwang-tuwa na nag-artista ako, na nasa Hot Babes ako.

But do you ever use it to enjoy extra privileges, like talk your way out of an angry traffic officer?
Yes, like nung nagda-drive ako sa Edsa going to Shaw, paakyat ng Shangri-La kasi may show ako run. Hindi ko alam na lumagpas na ako sa yellow lane. Sabi ko may show lang ako sa Shangri-La. Pinaligtas naman ako, ha ha! Kasi pag maganda ka ang lakas ng dating mo, nadadaan mo sa pakiusap lahat. Ha ha!

What makes you beautiful?
Perfect yung pagkakagawa sa akin ng nanay at tatay ko. Maganda yung pagkakahulma sa akin, ha ha! Now let me ask you: Maganda ba ako?

Let’s just say we’d like to introduce you to our parents already. Are you a different person when you’re with the man you like?
Yes, minsan. Siyempre pag first time kong nakasama yung guy, medyo tahimik pa ako. Pero pag sanay na akong kasama yung guy, nailalabas ko na yung kulit ko. Malambing kasi ako eh, sobrang sweet kong tao.

And how do you show it?
Sa lahat ng bagay. Sa lahat ng puwedeng gawin ng malambing, like niyayakap ko, kini-kiss ko. Iba kasi akong maglambing, eh. Dire-diretso.

Dire-diretso…doon?
Ha ha! Yes, kailangan iyun, eh. Talagang hindi yung malambing lang ako ngayong araw, tapos bukas hindi. Buong araw malambing ako.

Do you ever make the first move?
Minsan ako. Siyempre kahit naman siguro gusto yung ganun. Masarap maging malambing, ha ha!

Since you’re a month late for our Ladies Confessions: Celebrity Diaries special this year, can you just share here your own confession?
Andami eh, ha ha! Once, sa veranda sa isang hotel sa Tagaytay. [She said it here before] Sabi ko try naman natin sa terrace sa labas. Eh madilim naman siya and overlooking, puro puno, walang makakita. We tried it. Pero after five minutes, sabi ko ang hirap pala rito, pasok na lang tayo. Ha ha!

Do you still get nervous during shoots like this?
Hindi na.

But you probably get cold?
Hindi, naiinitan nga ako kanina dun sa set di ba, ha ha!

Where can we see more of you?
Regular ako sa Punchline sa Quezon Avenue, Laffline sa Timog, and Metro Comedy Bar sa West Avenue. Halos every day andun ako, unless may out of town show.

Wow. You crack jokes?
Kumakanta ako at nagpapatawa rin, pero tine-train na ako as a comedienne.

Are as bubbly in real life as you are on stage?
Oo, masayahin akong tao, eh. Pero first impression sa akin maldita raw, mahirap basahin kung anong klaseng tao ako. Inaalam ko muna kasi kung magiging okay kami ng isang tao.

We know a lot of celebs whose career went awry because of love. You think you have that tendency?
Sa ngayon? Hindi ako magpapasira ng career dahil lang sa isang lalaki. Siyempre yung gusto kong partner supportive sa ginagawa ko.

So do you promise to be visible, if not be here, forever?
Hangga’t may career at may kumukuha sa akin. Gusto kong tumagal pero hindi natin masasabi yung buhay showbiz. Gusto ko ring magkaroon ng simpleng buhay. Pero sobrang happy sa trabaho ko, happy ako sa mga taong yung respeto nila andun talaga.

Since we’re one of those you’ve worked with, who respected you, and who made you happy, what can you give us?
In return, magiging nice ako sa inyo. Hindi ako magpapaka-diva na hindi namamansin. Ayoko nang ganun.

Thanks! Pero wala bang kiss?
Kiss lang pala eh! Sure! Ha ha!