MEET THE REAL KC CONCEPCION
Inquirer News Service, July 24, 2001

Emerging from the shadows

ON FRIDAY, the biggest campaign of Ben Chanís alternative label for the young and individualistic, Human, will be launched. And at the heart of the blitz is its newest image model, KC Concepcion. Yes, sheís Sharon Cunetaís daughter and you know everything about her. Well, maybe not everything.

For instance, at school, KC is an achiever: Sheís in the honor roll, sheís with the choir, sheís secretary of the class and the junior council, and sheís the PRO of the environmental club.

KC is a loving sister, good friend, adventurous clotheshorse, soccer player, swimmer and, most of all, a teenager with depth.

There are other things people donít know about the 16-year-old celebrity. In this exclusive interview with the INQUIRER 2bU! staff, the prettiest face to hit media of late talks about lip balm, her ideal boyfriend, her idea of fun and the real KC Concepcion.

People think youíre a sweet little girl. Are you, really?

No, Iím faking it. (Laughter) Just kidding. I think people tend to highlight a certain side of someone. Like me, some people say Iím sweet. Iím humanóand thatís not a pun or promo or anythingóand there are different sides to everyone. When they see me angry, theyíll say, ìWhy is she like that? Sheís not supposed to be like that. Sheís supposed to be this sweet little girl.î How would you feel if you were under a magnifying glass? I have different sides, like everyone else.

What irritates you?

One of the things that really irritate me is that people canít understand Iím normal. They already have different perceptions of me. It affects me more now when people try to pry constantly. Iím an adolescent and Iím learning different things. I stumble along the way. Iím just going through a lot.

Your yaya says you look most beautiful when youíre angry. What are you like when youíre angry? Do you throw things?

I donít throw things. Sometimes I really keep it all inside. Sometimes youíll see Iím less perky or I wonít be perky at all. Iíll just stay in my own little corner and Iíll be moody. I keep it all inside. When I do let it out sometimes, I tend to stay away from people.

How much influence does your mom have on your sense of style?

Sheís never really been revealing. She doesnít like a lot of cleavage. Not really sexy. In that sense, Iíve learned to kind of avoid the whole I-want-to-show-a-lot-of-skin thing. Once in a while Iíd want to, but itís not really part of my life.

Do you have a beauty regimen?

Itís not something I prioritize. As long as I feel clean, as long as I donít smell, I will step out of the door and Iím fine. I just wash my face every night and day. I take showers. (Laughs) The beauty thing is not really part of the conversation.

What canít you leave home without?

Lip balm. I have to have lip balm because my lips are really dry and I feel so dirty when... It always has to be moisturized.

Got to be real

What is your ideal boyfriend like?

Intelligent and responsible. I should be able to feel weíd be able to work anything out the right way. And I like to learn from everyone so heíd have to be someone smart, not brain-dead. Someone who knows how to have fun and has a passion for life, respects othersí thoughts. Got to be real.

Do you have a boyfriend?

Whether I do or not, itís not something I really would want to talk about.

Are you romantic?

Ask my future boyfriend.

Do you have a pet?

Had a black-cap parrot from Indonesia called Kulay and a couple of fighting fish called Chaos and Jorda. They died. Our dog Solomon is still around, though. Heís a shih tzu.

Whatís your idea of fun?

Fun can be anything, but some people have a totally distorted sense of fun. [To me, itís] doing things youíve never done before, and the people you do them with. Itís all about the rush, or the experiences you never forget that makes the best timesóas long as no oneís hurt, or forced to do something silly.

Whatís your favorite foreign city?

Bangkok!

What time do you go to bed?

Usually, I canít fall asleep until about midnight.

What words/expressions do you most use?

ìThatís pretty funny.î ìSo weird.î ìThatís so bad!î ìAyayayayay!î ìYou sure?î Clicking noisesóI make a lot of gestures and get pretty animated when I talk.

What/who makes you laugh? Why?

Tom Green! People like him you just canít take seriously. Itís interesting when you see somebody making a fool of himself to be funny but doesnít realize it.

Youíve never gone this public before, though youíve hosted a ìSharonî episode. How do you think youíll deal with the aftermath of going public?

I try to keep my feet on the ground and try to ignore the fuss, although itís not completely ignorable. I just try to stick to whatís real in my life, whatís not show biz. There are things that are really important to me, like my family, friends, true friends, real people, real situations.