PNS — BEFORE Angelica Panganiban, there was model Solenn Heussaff as the girlfriend of Derek Ramsay. Solenn is now a semi-regular performer in GMA7’s “Party Pilipinas” and now managed by Leo Dominguez who’s determined to build her up as a singer. She was only 17 when she went steady with Derek. “We were on for four years and I became very close to his family. Four of his pamangkins, ako ninang and one of them is also called Solenn. He was the one who broke up with me.”
Because of Angelica? “No, because we grew apart. I studied fashion design in Paris for four years so it was mostly a long distance relationship. I had another boyfriend, an Irish Filipino, after him, pero break na rin kami.”
Has she met Angelica? “Yes, only recently. We’re very polite to each other. We even made beso.”
The second of three kids, her mom is former Bayanihan dancer Cynthia Adea who met her dad, a member of the French Navy, while performing in Egypt. They got married 33 years ago. “My dad moved here after the wedding. He’s now into oil services.”
They live in Forbes Park and her younger brother, Erwan, a chef who also sings well, is linked to Anne Curtis. Does she approve of Anne for Erwan? “Anne is my best friend and if I were a man, I’d also fall in love with her.”
Why didn’t she join showbiz earlier? “There were offers but I was not ready. Now, I’m more mature and more confident of myself. I want to concentrate on singing because my Tagalog is not that good.”
What kind of songs would she like to sing? “Mostly jazzy numbers. I write my own songs.”
Lolit Solis asked her if Derek is “dako” (well endowed)? “I’m not gonna say.”
“Ay, siguro dyuts,” says Lolit raising her little finger. “It’s so easy to say kung dako.”
“Anyway, size doesn’t matter. It’s how you work the engine that counts,” Solenn counters.