Verns Buckley
Verns Buckley is the first Philippine Supermodel after Melanie Marquez to be represented by the prestigious FORD models at the age of 19. She represented the Philippines competing against 54 countries for the prestigious Supermodel of the world title in 2002 and came out the only Asian ranked in the top 10 in the world and presented a contract by FORD New York. This was the closest Philippines has ever been to The Title after Melanie Marquez.
Verns Buckley was born to a Filipino mother and a British Nuclear Scientist father. She started modelling at the age of 14 after being discovered in Cebu by a small modelling agency owned by Dexter Alazas when she was walking to home from school. At the age of 15 she was discovered by the owner of Calcarries Philippines, Joey Espino during one of the castings for a show in that region.
She got her first big break at 15 when she became the image model of Pantene. Shortly followed by her first international stint in Singapore where she was based for 2 months and appeared in countless magazines, print ads and runways including GUESS, Max Mara, Escada and Esprit then Becoming the image model for Bossini and countless Asian labels and brands. Since then she was shuttling Hongkong, Philippines, Singapore, China, Malaysia and Bangkok. At the age of 16 she was named by MEGA magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful women. At 17 she represented the Philippines in Singapore in the Asian FACES competition and bagged 2nd place. She was then asked to Proceed to China where she was named one of the top 10 most outstanding models of Shanghai. By the age of 19 she had done countless endorsements and stints including: Coke Light, Panasonic, Clean&Clear, and once again Pantene. She was on the cover of countless magazines and was one of the most in demand models in 3 nations.
Thinking she was ready for a bigger audience and wider seas, she tried her luck and joined the Ford Supermodel of the world Philippines where she won and was proclaimed Supermodel of the World Philippines 2002. After landing in the top 10 in the world finals, she signed a contract with FORD models where she was jetted off to Miami, USA as her first stint landing a runway show with JLO swimwear and making an appearance with the rapper 50 cent during the MTV springbreak. After being based for 2 months she was flewn to Chicago where she had appeared in countless magazines and catalogs for brands such as SEARS and NORDSTROM and later appearing in a fashion show segment in the OPRAH WINFREY show which was televised all over the world. She was then sent to Capetown, South Africa where she lived for 4 months under the prestigious STORM models who also represent Kate Moss. She was then based in London for 3 months where she did runway shows for Ted Baker, Burberry and St. John. Shuttling Germany and London during her stay there and landing more European print ads, magazines and catalogs.
She married Derrick Chiongbian in June 2007 at the Redemptorist Church, Cebu City. Reception was at the The Marquee, Mactan Shangri-la.