Niel Francisco

I started modelling in 2012. During that time, I was getting over my ex-partner. Modelling became my outlet and to make myself busy at the same time. I never thought about modelling before, but with the encouragement of my first creative team, Marc Marlon as the Director/Photographer, Lee Palma, also my Photographer and Sugar as the HMUA/stylist, I got really interested to be in the industry. Year 2015, I collaborated with Yeu Santos for the Illustrado Magazine Faces Batch 8, a Dubai based magazine. Fortunately we bagged the, "People's Choice award" out of more than 50 entries. Within the same year, I competed in the Pinoy Top Model Cycle 5, an online modelling contest with various concepts weekly. Sir Dale Mariano and Ms Fay Dela Cruz were the people behind my success that time. No matter how confident and comfortable you are, once you start working in an industry where very few people look to you, some insecurities will surface. Modelling was never a goal of mine, but I started using it as a medium to amplify my message of inclusion. My advice is to always remember why you started and remember that you got to where you are because you’re needed and valued for who you are, so don’t try to change to fit in.