Cover image via tinypic.com
Maria Isabel Lopez tells her side of the story after her red-carpet appearance at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in France gained more attention on the Internet than director Brillante Mendoza and lead star Jaclyn Jose
Last Saturday, May 21, Lopez wrote an article explaining what happened before that shoot
"When I fitted the gown, I was worried I thought it was too much! The train was three times longer than Miss Universe (2015) Pia Wurzbach's winning blue gown. The plunging neckline was three (3) times lower than hers. OMG! Didn't Albert Andrada consider my breast was not the same when (for the benefit of the Andy Eigenmann generation), I was the reigning ECP Queen and the hottest female bold star of the 80s," explains Lopez.
Isabel apologized to Direk Brillante and Jaclyn for unintentionally stealing the scene at the film festival
Isabel was in the entourage of Director Brillante in Cannes, together with Jaclyn and Andi Eigenmann, for their film Ma' Rosa, which gave Jaclyn her Best Actress trophy at the glitzy filmfest.
It turned out the red carpet incident has led to creation of memes and humorous hashtags that are currently going viral.
The actress wrote: "I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to my director Brillante Mendoza and the lead actress Jaclyn Jose that there was no intention on my part to be a scene stealer and take the spotlight away from them. It was just being me," she said in an interview of GMA News.
Wearing an emerald dress designed by Albert Andrada at the red carpet, Isabel gained attention for her fabulous poses during the group photos, which showed noticeable 'space gap' from her companions.
She explained that when their group returned to the hotel after the red carpet, she was told that she was all over social media.
"Then, Jaclyn Jose with Ruby Ruiz and I went to Brillante's room at Hotel Gray D'Albion. Actor Jomari Angeles said, 'You're on Instagram in @redcarpet_fashion award and I was pleased because at least we were noticed," tells Isabel in an interview of GMA News.
She also mentioned that she then received overwhelming text and private messages on her Facebook.
Links on her wall were also posted that included memes and hashtags like #BeLikeMaria.
"I was viral and trending. This is overwhelming! And I'm humbled by this experience."
In the article, Isabel explained that upon arriving at the red carpet, she was very cautious not to steal the spotlight from Direk Brillante and Jaclyn, who was the star of the movie
She added that this was her second time in Cannes, since she also attended the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in 2009 for the film Kinatay, also directed by Brillante.
At the controversial group photo during the red carpet, the actress explains and justifies that the trail of her gown was being stepped upon and she constantly needed to push the trail near her.
"That's the reason for the 'space' that I created between me and the rest of the actors. As they say inside the Paris metro, 'Please mind the gap.' My gown was being stepped upon and if you can only see how dirty it is on the tail."
