By Candice Lopez-Quimpo
Ornusa Cadness is feeling secretive.
“For this year I want to venture on into another one of my passions,” she starts.
“But I’d rather not mention because I don’t want to jinx anything.
It’s not like Ornusa has been slacking off. You may have spotted her at one of gigs as DJ Flex–one half of the duo, the Zombettes. It’s been a stylish gig with fellow model Sanya Smith, bringing their brand of party in and around the metro.
She muses, “I wouldn’t mind brushing up on being a Dj and learning a few more tricks.”
It’s not like she’s hung up her model hat either. She remains one of the members of the model-run organization Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP), still strutting and posing her way through the fashion and beauty industries.
“I think reinventing ones self is healthy. It’s a sign of growth and evolution.”
It’s easy to say that she’s busy. Nothing new, you can almost hear Ornusa saying, but nothing predictable either.
Take her daily schedules for example.
“The days vary,” points out Ornusa. “Sometimes we’ll have a light day with just one gig. But on others we’ll have three gigs. Other days we practice, have meetings, attend events, do shoots or fashion shows. Then I have to squeeze in all my errands in between. There’s no pattern, it’s always different.”
What Ornusa may find unforgivable, is a lack of self-care. Being a model, notwithstanding, beauty is a constant issue. Her formula for well-being is based on the unremarkably simple staples: good food, sleep, hydration, exercise.
“I keep it simple—make sure to wash your face before you sleep and when you get up,” Ornusa shares, giving a hat tip to the rule of prevention. “I am hoping to start eating as healthy as I used to (I used to be a vegetarian for five years) because you really do feel the difference inside and out. Lots of sleep and lots of water. I take vitamins now. And when my injury is fully healed (I broke my ankle recently) I would like to start going back to the gym.”
Add a sense of order, and you have one happy camper. If Ornusa is extra glowing and blissful, we can safely assume that she has her ducks neatly lined in a row. She feels it too, saying that she feels most beautiful “when my life is in order and I have done all my chores and tasks. This includes a clean household and self-grooming. It somehow gives me peace of mind and makes me feel awesome.”
She’s crafty as she is realistic too. A word to the wise: eyebrows—referring to her quick pick-me-upper on a not-so-good day.
Ornusa confides, “I’m obsessed with eyebrows. When you have nicely penciled eyebrows it makes a world of a difference. It’s a trick that a beauty queen, taught me.”
It’s a practice not limited to models and beauty queens though.
I think as a woman you should always look presentable regardless of what industry your in.
For a woman whose bread and butter require a constant portrayal of beauty, poise, and grace, all this busy-ness can be detrimental. But Ornusa isn’t one to turn opportunities away, so much so that change is something that’s been her trusty companion on many occasions.
I am positive most of the time; nobody is always positive. That’s impossible. I try to be positive as much as I can because there’s no point in added stress.”
Perhaps it’s her outlook and attack on life that allows her to explore the many ventures that her passions lead her to. For one, she knows how to take things in stride. Modeling’s demanding nature, for instance, is something that she’s learned to manage. It helps to have worked the industry for so long, but more than that, a resilient nature and a strong mind keep Ornusa steady and moving forward.
“It’s challenging,” she admits. “A lot of girls crack due to insecurities of not being pretty or skinny enough.”
What she portrays in other ways—that others are better off following—is a flexibility she allows herself in the face of her hectic lifestyle. While her days can shift bizarrely from one day to the next, she works with the circumstances and adjusts as needed. Depending when you meet Ornusa, you’d either be encountering someone who’s chill and going with the flow, or hustling as required. “When it’s crunch time, I know how to get the ball moving and get things done.” She takes a pragmatic approach on being a positive person. “I am positive most of the time; nobody is always positive. That’s impossible. I try to be positive as much as I can because there’s no point in added stress.”
Ornusa’s on-the-go beauty regimen entails:
Make up remover, facial wash and moisturizer. Always have to have these three in my travel kit.
Skincare and beauty products that she cannot live without:
Keihls powerful strength line reducing concentrate. I swear by it
The real trick of going from a day to night look?
Eyeliner, eyeliner, eyeliner!
Ornusa’s beauty resolutions for the new year?
Exercise more and drink more water, that’s all.
What is a Calyxta girl?
Me! Hahaha! Calyxta girls are girls who are comfortable with themselves, who love feeling and looking good and don’t need a reason to do so.