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PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL TICZON
INTERVIEW: MICH LAGDAMEO
STYLING: MATT GOZUM
MAKEUP: JO TICZON
HAIR: CHRIS RODIL
SPECIAL THANKS TO FOREST FARMS, ANGONO, RIZAL
ALL SWIMSUITSFROM TWINKLE FERRAREN; ACCESSORIES FROM NULLAH

Have you always been a performer?
Feeling ko since birth, but yeah, my mom said, during my younger days, I loved to dance. Tapos kanta ako nang kanta. In school, lahat ng activities hindi ko pinalagpas—theater, yung mga majorettes, the school dance troupe. Nag-cheerleader ako. Hanggang naging career ko na siya.

Any truth to the adage that cheerleaders aren’t exactly the smartest people?
Hmm, depende! Ha ha! But ako, in my case, since nag-start ako sumayaw, and with all my activities, na-maintain ko yung grades ko. And I graduated on time! Maybe that’s why they say cheerleaders are like that, kasi minamahal talaga nila yung ginagawa nila, kaya yung mga 4- or 5- year course nagiging 7. Pero ako, I graduated on time.

Props to you then. What course did you take up?
IT. At the time I was in college, yun yung in demand. Lalo na yung mga mahihilig sa computers, sa software.

Quite a departure from performing onstage, we think. What job would you have ended up with?
Sana, if not here, abroad. I could have been an IT professional, pero nauna pa rin yung passion and hilig sa pag perform. High school and college palang ako, marami na akong groups na nasalihan. I came from a girl group na talagang all out performers; singing, dancing, interacting with the audience. Parang nanonood ka ng concert.

So what thrills you most about being onstage?
Every time nasa stage ako, feeling ko sinasaniban ako ng kung sinu-sinong idol ko. For example, I watched a Beyonce concert last night, “Ah, this time, Beyonce ako!” Kinukuhaan ko ng inspiration. Kahit na may sakit ka, or you’re not in the mood, or even  if something bad happened, kailangan talaga lumabas ka. And ako naman, jolly and energetic talaga ako onstage.

CHECK OUT GRACE'S FULL INTERVIEW ON THE DECEMBER 2010 ISSUE OF FHM!