LOS ANGELES?The recent passing of Elizabeth Taylor inspired our colleagues to share some anecdotes about the legendary beauty, actress and philanthropist, especially in connection with her appearances at the Golden Globe Awards.

Here?s one: ?In the 2001 Golden Globes, when Elizabeth Taylor was the ?grand finale? as the presenter of the Best Picture-Drama, she inadvertently started to announce the winner before reciting the nominees.

?When Dick Clark frantically called to her from offstage during the live telecast and alerted her about the gaffe, Elizabeth, always possessing a quick wit, calmly smiled and said, ?Oh, I guess I?m more used to receiving awards rather than giving them.??

At her heaviest

Another colleague told us about this backstage drama involving La Liz and Ron Galella (the controversial paparazzo who was once punched in the face by Marlon Brando and sued by Jackie Onassis) when she received the Cecil B. DeMille award in 1985: ?Taylor?s people, who included her publicist, Chen Sam, wanted to know if Galella was covering the Globes. He took that awful picture of Elizabeth in a car when she was at her heaviest.

?When we said, ?Yes, he was ?credentialed,? we were told that Elizabeth wouldn?t attend if Ron was present. The one who was in charge of our press at the time jumped the gun and told Ron that we were taking away his credentials, because Elizabeth didn?t want him there. Ron made a big fuss and threatened to sue Elizabeth, claiming that she was interfering with his livelihood. Eventually, both Elizabeth and Ron attended, but believe me, she wasn?t a happy camper, at least in the beginning.?

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In last weekend?s show of rising Hollywood designer, Oliver Tolentino, at the Fashion Week El Paseo 2011 in Palm Springs, California, Filipina supermodel, Tutay Maristela-Fasano, brought dramatic flair to the designer?s clothes. Tutay, naughtily wagging a finger to the beat of Sylvia La Torre?s remixed ?Galawgaw? or kneeling while wearing Oliver?s billowy wedding gown, mesmerized the chic crowd.

Acting experience

We asked the UP alumna, who?s now based in San Diego, if she has any acting experience. ?Wala po,? replied Tutay. She quipped, ?Pero, noong bata ako, ilang beses akong umarte na nagtutulog-tulugan para hindi ako mautusan ng nanay ko. Tapos, magi-guilty ako, kaya magpe-pretend akong magising.?

?I was just praying not to fall or trip onstage,? admitted Tutay, who led a group of top models in showcasing Oliver?s well-received summer collection. ?It would be embarrassing if I fell, since there were many people watching. But, kidding aside, every design evokes an emotion. Every detail of clothing is an element of a story. The designer?s choice of fabric, color, length and style are instruments to communicate a feeling. In the case of runway modeling, it?s up to the model to convey this emotion.?

On how she managed to kneel while wearing the wedding gown with the voluminous skirt, Tutay said, ?That?s the good thing when you?re wearing a big gown?you can find your most comfortable position, kasi natatakpan naman ng gown. The audience probably wouldn?t notice even if I tap danced.?

Patients

When she?s not pouting and dramatically draping herself against a column onstage or bending a la Pilita Corrales (Oliver?s American models asked him, ?Do we do that, too??), Tutay works as a nurse. ?My patients aren?t aware that I also model,? she deadpanned. ?I work in the emergency room and, a lot of times, my patients aren?t alert.?

Tutay, who claims that she prefers her name to be spelled as 2tay, admitted the obvious: Catwalk is fun, but being a nurse is also fulfilling. ?Malawak ang nae-experience ko sa emergency room, pero mas masaya ako as a model,? she remarked. ?I think a fashion show is also a celebration of life. It?s a cliché, but life is short. Kaya ngayon, whenever I do a show, I always enjoy it!?

The Pinay stressed that she was a Ford Supermodel finalist but didn?t win, contrary to some reports. However, she did win in the Best Model of the World of the Philippines contest and cinched the Best Catwalk honors in an international competition in Turkey.

Despite her forays on the ramp, Tutay is serious about her nursing career. ?I?m currently studying to get my CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse) certification,? she revealed. ?It?s not a requirement at work, but it?s more like a professional attainment. I also do volunteer work whenever I can. I cried when I volunteered at the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) when they had a triathlon in San Diego. Ang galing nila! Sobra akong na-inspire.?

Fashion week

Oliver makes it a point to inform Tutay in advance about his coming shows, so she can take off from her nursing job and model his eco-friendly creations in abaca and piña fabrics, whether in the fashion week in the Bahamas, LA or Palm Springs. ?I love Oliver?s continued support of the Philippines? sustainable fabrics,? she said. ?I love his ingenuity, craftsmanship and his great respect for his profession. Alam mo?ng pinag-isipan n?ya ang bawat damit.?

The designer gushed about his muse. ?We love having a Filipina supermodel, and specifically Tutay, to open and close my shows, because she emotes so well,? he said. ?We insisted that the Bahamas and El Paseo show organizers use her. I let her perform, and the audience loves her! Even the models clap for Tutay when they watch her on the backstage monitor.?

For Tutay, who is married to Nick Fasano, a former basketball player with the Negros Navigation team, the pull of the ER is just as strong as the runway. Tutay said that she will definitely get her master?s degree in nursing.

E-mail rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com