ONLY ON OMG! - There's something about Sam

There's a good reason why many were surprised when Sam Pinto topped the FHM Philippines Sexiest Woman of the World poll this year.

For one, the said list has become a Marian Rivera-Angel Locsin-Cristine Reyes battle royale the past years. When these four topped the poll, it was usually preceded by a huge project or career-defining move. To be fair, Sam has been in a number of blockbuster movies (“Catch Me... I'm In Love” and last year's box-office hit “Ang Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote,” for instance) but she's not yet as big a name as the constant poll winners when they topped the list.

Sam also isn't the typical definition of sexy. Her famous beer ad shows her in a two-piece bikini, but her frame is more reminiscent of Kim Chiu than Katrina Halili. She's even the first to admit that she doesn't have the requirements to be considered conventionally sexy.

Be that as it may, there's also something about Sam that makes her alluring and, yes, sexy. She has a disarming charm, a beauty that warrants more than a second look. That she admits to being shy adds to the appeal, like she's your typical Taylor Swift-esque girl-next-door girl who prefers to wears T-shirts instead of short skirts but can still rock a sexy, revealing attire to win the hearts of boys and men.

She can also turn into a consummate professional in front of the camera in an instant, as she demonstrated in her impromptu mini-pictorial before her interview with Yahoo! OMG! Philippines last Sunday, July 17, at the Claire dela Fuente Grill and Seafood in Pasay City.

Learn more about charm and beauty of the country's current sexiest woman ONLY ON OMG!

OMG: What do you feel now that people look up to you as a sex goddess?

Sam: For me, it's actually pretty crazy because this wasn't really planned at all, at least for me. Actually, ang peg namin (for me is) parang Anne Curtis. Sexy but, you know, still wholesome like she did that juice drink (advertisement). Naka-two piece sya. Pero biglang umiba yung path. I was surprised, super.

OMG: Was it hard to adjust to the sudden change of image?

Sam: Not really. I'm the type of person who just goes with the flow. If Viva (Sam's talent agency) thinks this is good for me, I trust them so much. If they think that it will make career bigger, why not?

OMG: Did you see yourself as the FHM kind of sexy? Because when you say FHM, there's usually this connotation... 

Sam: Actually, ang daming nagco-comment about that. Kasi, for me naman, being sexy is not just about being physical. That's what people think,di ba—the bigger, the better; the curves, yes. So it can be really sexy also but it's how you bring yourself, being confident, being happy with your body.

OMG: What can you say that some people think you somehow changed the definition of sexy?

Sam: Grabe yung part na yun. I wasn't really expecting that. At least now, other people have another point of view of being sexy. Sana, lumaki yan. Sana maging open-minded pa sila.

Like I said nga, (being sexy is) not just about being physical. It's a state of mind.

Lahat naman ng nasa FHM, sexy e. Kahit hindi rin naman sa FHM. Look at Lovi Poe. Parehas kami ng katawan, but look at how she poses for Bench Body, di ba? Grabe!

OMG: How long do you see yourself in this kind of image?

Sam: For me, not too long. Kasi baka masyadong ma-stereotype. If ever, I'll probably go back to the wholesome path. Of course (going back to wholesome image is) still possible.

OMG: Is there pressure to maintain this kind of figure? Do you have to maintain a certain weight?

Sam: Not really. Pero sa clothes, yes. Parang now, I mix being sexy and being classy at the same time. Kasi dati, pwede lang jeans and shirt e. Now that people think that I'm sexy, people are kinda... So being classy and sexy at the same time, like wearing jeans and a corset top. I was looking at Megan Fox as my peg. But the thing with Megan Fox is, she's too rock and roll. Mahilig sya sa mga butas na pants. Very rugged. So maybe I took it a bit and made it a bit classy.

OMG: Did you expect na magkaka-intrigues along with the title?

Sam: I was constant number five or four? Masaya na ako nun e. Being in the top ten, I was happy. And then biglang nag number one. I wasn't really expecting what followed.

OMG: One of the issues concerning your title is the comment you made during the press conference Viva gave you when you topped the FHM poll.

Sam: Nung time na yun I was just having fun with everybody. Kasi di ba, kung kilala mo yung press, you joke around. Plus, another thing, when it's written down, let's say sa internet when people read it, of course text yun e. Sila na ang naglalagay ng emotions. Kahit na sinabi mo in a nice way, sila ang naglalagay ng emotions.

OMG: Do you think that intrigue is your baptism of fire?

Sam: Ewan ko. Maybe I'm just really like that. I'm just really a straight-forward person. I can't help it! (laughs)

OMG: Is being straight forward an asset or a liability in showbiz?

Sam: (Laughs) In showbiz ha, I don't think so. Maybe I will change it a little bit. Maybe, just say it in a really, really nice. Kasi minsan, when I say it, lumalabas na masama e.

OMG: Do you consider that the biggest issue regarding you since you entered showbiz?

Sam: Actually, no. Mas naapektuhan ako nung nasa ABS-CBN pa ako, when they kept calling me third party. Na third party ni Kimerald (Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson love team), third party ni ganito. My gosh, mas lalong wala akong ginagawa sa mga taong ito!

OMG: Did you really want to enter show business?

Sam: I never really dreamed of entering showbiz. Never talaga. I was taking up Fashion Design in College of Saint Benilde and I really thought that was my path, to be a fashion designer.

OMG: When you joined Pinoy Big Brother, there was really no intention of entering show business?

Sam: Not at all. Actually, I was Viva na back then. They were like, 'go audition, try lang.' And mamaya they're making me stay na. I was like, whoa. In less than two days I was inside the house so my head was super floating. 'Anong nangyayari?' And then the whole time I was like, 'Is this really for me? Do I really want this?'

OMG: So PBB was just an experiment?

For me, yeah. I also want to prove something. Because I've always been known as a pretty face. I want to prove na I can do a lot of other things. I wanted to try all these challenges talaga. Kasi I got used to being the baby kasi I'm the bunso in the family. So when I entered, sobrang I gained independence talaga.

OMG: So now, are you decided to stay in show business? At what point did you realize you wanted to stay?

Sam: Looks like (I'm decided now). I guess when I started having fun sa acting I realized I wanted to stay. Kaya ko pala ito. Kasi dati parang, I never act, I never sing, I never dance. Pero when I started learning, parang okay, kaya ko pala ito. Nung nagugustuhan ko na sya slowly, I was like, 'pwede pala ito, maybe this is really for me.'

OMG: How has showbiz modified your personality?

Sam: I became more confident. Kasi that I'm very quiet, I'm very mahiyain. Everyone was shocked when I entered PBB. As in shocked talaga. I never talked about showbiz, I never cared about showbiz before. When they saw me on TV, they were like, 'what's she doing there?'

OMG: Is there a peg for you in terms of acting?

Sam: Acting, wala namang peg. I just want to be remembered not just for being maganda, for being sexy, but also, magaling umarte. To the point na maging icon, yung ganung level. (laughs) Any character talaga.

OMG: What are your projects now?

Sam: 'Captain Barbell,' but it's almost done. And then 'Bubble Gang,' my regular show. Also 'Party Pilipinas.' And Tween Hearts the movie. I play the sexy teacher. (laughs) Yan na naman, sexy na naman. And I'll start a new movie with Cesar Montano. Right now, the title is 'Hitman.' Viva and him (are producing), I think. So it's exciting, my role is super 'Tomb Raider.' Super kick-ass.

OMG: Do you think this is your banner year?

Sam: Hopefully. Kulang na lang show e. I think they're talking about it. Pero wala pang final-final details. But at least there's the movies coming up e. It's not for the filmfest, but at least it's something different.

OMG: What is your dream project?

Sam: I wanna do something like Angelina Jolie. Not just action. Di ba may mga movie sya like 'Gia.' mga kakaibang roles talaga. Pwede ring action. That'll be cool.


Interview and text by Chuck Smith and Maridol Ranoa-Bismark, photos by Mike Alquinto, NPPA Images