Filipino-American Ronnie Escalante Jr. also made it to the Top Three of a reality show -- National Broadcasting Company's (NBC) "Fashion Star," the search for the next big brand in fashion.
Filipino-Mexican-American Sanchez, 16, made it to the Top Three of reality singing competition "American Idol" on Thursday night (Friday morning in Manila).
On May 8, Escalante, 33, made it to the Top Three of "Fashion Star" along with fellow contestants Kara Laricks and Orly Shani.
"Fashion Star" started in March this year with 14 unknown designers, 11 of whom were already eliminated in the previous weeks.
The three top global retailers in the US -- Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and H&M -- bid for exclusive rights to carry a designer’s work each week.
Three mentor-judges help out the designers: singer-actress Jessica Simpson, singer-TV personality Nicole Richie, and world-renowned fashion designer John Varvatos.
The first ever winner of Fashion Star will be awarded $6,000,000 in orders for capsule collections in Macy's, H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.
Escalante's journey to fame
Escalante grew up in the Philippines but moved to the US as a teenager.
The Navy Times Scoop Deck said Escalante was a former sailor who grew up in an agricultural province -- Bulacan -- but was "surrounded by fashion, as his cousin worked as a ‘beader’ in a local fashion house."
According to his biography on the official website of "Fashion Star," "it was in grade school that his knack for fashion design flourished. Escalante would sketch clothing designs in the back of his school notebooks."
"At the age of 17, Escalante and his family moved to the US and soon after, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served for four years," the site said.
After serving in the military, Escalante studied at a fashion design school in San Francisco.
NBC said Escalante's "senior-year collection won him a prestigious internship at Chado Ralph Rucci and Zac Posen in New York City. He hasn't looked back since."
According to his personal blog, Escalante was born to Ellanor Eugenio and Ronnie Escalante Sr. at San Jose, San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippines.
At age seven, his interest in fashion began as he would sit beside his mother while she read magazines.
He carried his passion for fashion to school as he sketched designs on the back of his notebook during his free time – sometimes even during class.
Escalante excelled in his Home Economics class especially in beading and sewing projects.
At one point he was asked by his teachers if he wanted to compete in an embroidery competition to which he replied, “Aren’t they only for girls?”
He always declined.
At age 17, his mother told him that they were moving to the US, a dream come true for Escalante.
His family first stayed at his uncle’s house in San Jose, California. Soon after, Escalante joined the US Navy to travel and explore the world while earning money for college.
His four-year stay with the Navy included helping out in operations for the "9/11" or September 11, 2001 attacks in the US.
Later, moving to Jacksonville, Florida, Escalante went to a business school while working as an Assistant Builder for a home building company.
He also worked as a bartender for a local bar during weekends.
Another two years flew by before he was finally able to pursue his dream of going into fashion.
Escalante took up BFA Fashion–Womenswear course at the Academy of Art in San Francisco.
Escalante later moved to Columbus, Ohio to design for Abercrombie and Fitch at their headquarters.
He worked in the Female Outerwear Department for two years where he learned the tricks of the trade not only in fashion but also in business.- Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News
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