LOOKS can be deceiving, says ?StarStruck V? Avenger Princess Snell.

She reveals that she may act like the typical girly-girl onscreen, but in real life, she?s the exact opposite.

?I can be a tomboyish rocker, fashion-wise,? she confesses.

She?s very partial to anything black: ?I?d wear black outfits and paint black makeup on my face.?

The Goth Goddess, however, has transformed into a ?Gossip Girl? since joining the GMA 7 reality show.

She can be a delicious brew of opposites.

Although she?s a world-class shopaholic (evident in her shoe collection), she claims she can be a frugal bargain hunter, too.

She offers stunning proof of her thrifty nature ? a trait that is clearly negated by all the flirty and fancy stuff in her brother?s posh condo unit, which she has turned into her own personal walk-in closet for now.

Shoes

?This is just half of my entire shoe collection,? Princess quips, without blinking.

She explains that the other pairs, numbering 200, are in the family home in Laguna.

She?s a self-confessed shoe addict, like Carrie in ?Sex and the City.?

?I?d buy a pair that costs P5,000 for as long as it?s one of a kind,? she notes. ?I?d stop wearing any pair if I see other girls in [identical designs]. I always want to look unique.?

She goes for gold, nude and, of course, black footwear.

She isn?t scared to supersize herself, either. ?I?m small; only 5?3?. I?m comfortable in four- to five-inch heels. I?m actually looking for eight-inch heels.?

The highest in her collection is a pair from Top Shop with six-and-a-half-inch heels.

Favorite labels are Steve Madden and Charles & Keith.

?You?ll hardly ever catch me wearing sneakers. I?m always in heels,? she swears.

Clothes

This practical fashionista buys clothes in the tiangge.

To prove her point, she challenges the Living Stars crew: ?Guess how much is the top I?m wearing now??

It was a jaw-dropping find. ?I got it for only P50 in Baclaran. Carry naman,? she says.

She shares a vital shopping tip with other teenagers: ?Don?t be scared to experiment and try different styles. I?m always on the lookout for good buys. Be adventurous and shop in both upscale malls and ukay-ukay bazaars.?

Girls don?t have to wear expensive clothes to look like a million bucks, she says. ?You can take a basic shirt and make it stand out with your accessories.?

Bangles, earrings, shades

She asks again: ?Guess how much my earrings are?? And drops a shocker: ?Only P50 in Baclaran!?

She insists: ?Earrings and bangles don?t need to be pricey. But you should know how to pick timeless, classic pieces.?

She advocates fashion independence in terms of accessories: ?Don?t follow trends. You should have your own distinct style.?

Princess has one strict rule, though:

?I choose black, gold and silver accessories. Nothing too colorful for me.?

She doesn?t want to look like a Christmas tree, she explains.

Again, this contradicting duality: She owns designer shades like Mango, Charles & Keith and Ray Ban, but also a pair she got at the supermarket for P60.

Belts

Even when it comes to belts, she leans toward dark hues.

?I wear only brown and black belts,? she says.

These days, she?s hooked on oversized belts. ?They look good on me since I?m petite.?

Since she always dresses in simple cuts, adorning her outfit with a huge belt adds a bit of drama to the look.

?I don?t want to be overdressed but, at the same time, I don?t want to look boring,? she says.

Bags

She admits that she splurges on shoes, bags and makeup because these are things that people notice immediately.

?I?m not scared to match a P200-dress with a Louis Vuitton bag,? she says.

People will remember the designer bag, not the marked-down dress, she points out.

Although her most prized tote is a black Epi from Louis Vuitton (a gift from her mom), a personal fave is a floral bag she got at a tiangge.

?It looks elegant,? she says. ?Who would think it?s from a flea market??

Classic pieces, she notes, never look dated: ?I can pass them on to my nieces or daughters in the future.?

Headbands

Since cutting her long tresses into a modish bob, Princess has discovered the trick of wearing headbands.

?Sander Andan, our stylist in ?StarStruck,? introduced me to headbands. He?s so nice. He gave me headbands and lots of clothes, too.?

As soon as the reality search ended, Princess went straight to the salon to get hair extensions, but the headband habit remained.

?Headbands add volume and body to my hair,? she says.

Scents

To complete her gear, Princess relies on a variety of scents.

Among her favorites are Christian Dior Addict, Bulgari Rose Essentielle and Chanel Chance.

Unlike other girls who fancy citrusy and fruity scents, Princess favors ?mature and matronly? perfumes.

?Floral! I want to smell old,? she exclaims. ?I don?t want to put on the same boring perfume every time. I try different scents. I want to be unforgettable.?

But it?s not just designer labels (Tommy Hilfiger Dreaming, Issey Miyake, Paco Rabanne Black XS, Salvatore Ferragamo Incanto, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada, Fairy Dust by Paris Hilton) that are on her vanity dresser.

She adores Body Shop?s Dry Olive Mist, too: ?It smells rich and makes my skin feel softer.?

Makeup

Princess also swears by ?investing in good cosmetic brands like VOV, Mac, Shu Uemura and Face Shop.?

?I?ve been modeling since I was 10, I know that using the right makeup can enhance your features,? she says.

Using inferior brands can do more harm than good, she adds.

She never leaves home without these items in her kikay kit: ?Mac powder foundation and bronze kit, Face Shop PK106 lipstick, VOV black eyeliner, Bella Beauty Bella in Bloom eyeshadow palette, and Bobbi Brown brushes.?

?I learned to do my own face when I was younger,? she says. ?If I don?t make it as an actress, I want to pursue a career as a makeup artist.?

E-mail: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com