It was a deeply personal milestone for Kapamilya actress Janine Gutierrez, who dedicated her “Sexiest Woman Alive” title from Esquire Philippines to a very special woman in her life.
During a recent media conference, Janine shared that her “Mamita,” the late singer Pilita Corrales, would have been thrilled to see her receive the recognition as someone who was the first to make her feel that way.
“It’s just an honor because I realized na yung parang happiest thing about this for me na when I saw it, my lola would have super loved this. Like Mamita loved anything kasi she was the first person who told me na sexy ako. She was like, ‘You’re a knockout’ and I asked, ‘ano yung knockout?’ and ayon pala ay ‘sexy.’ I do not see myself as someone who is sexy,” Janine happily said.
“Sexy isn’t just physical. For me, like yung lola ko she was just so funny, sobrang kengkoy, she always made fun of herself, and I think it made her all the more sexy. The best part of this for me is she would have loved it,” she added.
For Janine, confidence, authenticity, and passion also ultimately define what it means to be sexy.
“I define sexy as being brave and parang fully authentic to who you are as a woman, all the good and all the bad and just being passionate with the things in your life like the people you love, your work, your advocacy. I feel like that kind of passion is what defines a sexy person,” she told PUSH ABS-CBN.
On social media, the actress echoed the same sentiment, dedicating her magazine cover to her grandmother.
“Thank you for having me, Esquire Philippines!!!! I am so honored and happy to be the latest addition to your roster of incredible Filipinas. What makes me happiest about this is I know that mamita would have LOVED this shoot. She always loved anything sexy and feminine and fun and strong. I dedicate it to her, my sexiest woman, ever 🤍,” she wrote.
Janine’s recognition is also a milestone for the magazine, as she is the first woman in seven years to be named “Sexiest Woman Alive” following a hiatus. Past title holders include Solenn Heussaff, Karen Davila, Pia Wurtzbach, and Catriona Gray.
According to Esquire Philippines magazine editor-in-chief PJ Caña, the choice of Janine was easy.
“Why not her? I mean, it's very obvious naman… The first time I met (Janine) last year, it was lunch at a restaurant. We didn't really get to interact a lot, but later that night, we saw each other again,” he said. “That was when I kind of got to talk to her a little bit more, and that's when I realized na this lady, obviously, she's very beautiful, she's very sexy, but when you talk to her, it's increasingly obvious that there's something else there.”
“She's obviously intelligent, she speaks her mind, but she's also very gracious and kind, which are all qualities that we sort of were looking for. So, long story short, that's how it happened, and when we reached out to her and her team, they very kindly said yes,” he added.
Janine then noted that it was also easy for her to accept the title from the local magazine.
“Honestly, I was super surprised pero yes agad kasi syempre I'm familiar with the sexiest woman alive title and I always wanted to do an Esquire cover. It's one of the covers na never ko nagawa ever. I've been here to some extent before, for Preview and other publications, but Esquire, parang shocks never pa ako nakapag-Esquire so when I saw that it was Esquire, I really was very excited to do it,” she stated.
Janine then shared her advice to all to embrace their “sexiness” and being kind and theirselves.
“Just embrace the good and the bad about you. It's okay to make mistakes as long as you keep growing, as long as you are always kind to the people around you and to the people you encounter, and that you're always uplifting also other women. Sobrang mahalaga yun kasi sobrang confidence booster when you have a group of women around you that really lift you up,” she said.
“Sa tingin ko (rin), kindness sa sarili mo and... maybe just not be so hard on yourself. Kung ano mang ka-kenkoyan and little quirks about you (let it) shine because that really makes you special. Just be you,” she remarked.