From local girl to Vogue PH: iKalinga beauty overcomes body shaming, gets featured in‘most revered magazine’

Growing up, Cynthia Ruth Somera was subjected to body shaming which could have easily kept her from going after her dreams if she had let it, but she pushed through and persevered towards self-improvement and what she wants to become.

Ruth, a 24-year-old beauty from Magsaysay, Tabuk City, Kalinga is one of the models featured in the February 2025 issue of Vogue PH, the Philippine edition of the ‘world’s most revered magazine’.

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Ruth who takes the model name ‘Fo Fa-i’ which means woman in Tinglayan language is one of the local beauties who aspire to hit the runway and grace magazine covers to represent brands and designers by wearing their clothing and accessories.

Just like any dreamers, the 24-year-old had her struggles before she made it to Vogue PH and one of these is body shaming which she had to deal with growing up. She recounted that some people were saying she is too thin to be a model, and while she shrugged her shoulders when she heard those words, it affected her emotionally and mentally.

“Naaapektohan po ako emotionally and mentally. Diaypambabatikostitaonga‘ang payatpayatmo,haan ka met bagay para ti modeling’mgaganunnga bullying ngaaggapotitao,” she said.

While she suffered from the comments, she was fueled by the support of her loved ones and friends, pushing her to make her way in local runways like the ‘Laga Fashion Show’ in Kalinga, pageants like the Search For Miss Tabuk, more runway and modelling projects, up to the PH edition of one of the most influential fashion magazines in the world, Vogue PH.

“Ito po ay big dream para saakin na akala ko dati ay mahirap at imposiblegawinkaseisangordinaryongtao lang akoperowala palang impossible sataong may pagmamahalsaginagawa at courage nagawin ang isangbagay,” she expressed.

Ruth or Fo Fa-i achieved this milestone at only 9 months since she signed her contract with Empire Mercator Talent Agency, what more could this iKalinga beauty do as she spends more years in the modelling industry? We just have to find out. Fo Fa-I said there is no stopping her from reaching her goals and aspiration.