Before the winner was crowned on the Logo network on the big-screen TVs and then again on stage, by season 1 winner BeBe Zahara Benet, I was part of a QNY team who got to talk to the three finalists—Manila Luzon, Alexis Mateo, and Raja—and some of the other season 3 contestants. (The winner will be revealed after the jump, so if you recorded the show but haven't watched it yet, sashay away. For now.)
For much of the season, I've been rooting for New York's own Manila Luzon. Originally from Minneapolis, Manila lives in Harlem with her boyfriend of five years, season 2's Sahara Davenport. "I love Harlem," Manila said. "It's out of the way but still in Manhattan, so you can catch a cab." And it's still inexpensive, she said, though it may not last that way, what with the million-dollar condos going up.
Manila said her favorite look from the show was her pineapple dress. "It's so me," she said. Last night, she was showing "Queen Elizabeth II realness."
Moments after I took this photo, Manila complained that the lighting was bad in that part of the room and so was relocated to a spot that had been reserved for Alexis, who hadn't yet arrived at the press meeting area. And that's why we love her! Actually, I loved her because she always put on a fantastic runway show and transformed herself into a beautiful yet often charmingly quirky Filipino princess.
