When she was featured on the cover of FHM two years ago this month, Sam Pinto was photographed in an immaculate-white swimsuit, as dry as a hot summer day even when she was emerging from the seat. The caption was: Sam Pinto Knocks on Stardom’s Door.

Since then, and especially now that she has just been named FHM (2011) Sexiest Woman of the World, Sam doesn’t have to knock so hard for doors to open — wide! — for her. From No. 32 last year, Sam made a giant leap to being No. 1, way ahead of (according to ranking, from No. 2 to No. 20) Marian Rivera, Angel Locsin, Cristine Reyes, Solenn Heussaff, Katrina Halili, Jennylyn Mercado, Iwa Motto, Jackie Rice, Ellen Adarna, Bangs Garcia, Ehra Madrigal, Angelica Panganiban, Valerie Concepcion, Lovi Poe, Iya Villania, Anne Curtis, Bianca Manalo, Regine Angeles and Rhian Ramos.

“It’s a big honor and a big surprise,” said Sam who was proclaimed at a Victory Party hosted by FHM last July 14 at the World Trade Center (Pasay City).

It’s indeed a feat for somebody who dreamed of being a fashion designer (“That’s why I took up Fashion Designing at the College of Saint Benilde”) and not of joining showbiz.

When Sam was introduced as one of the housemates of the ABS-CBN reality-TV show Pinoy Big Brother (PBB), people thought that she was “imported from America.” Actually, she’s not. “Pinoy na Pinoy po ako,” corrected Sam. “My parents are both Pinoy. I’m one of two daughters. We were both born and raised in the Philippines.”

Managed by Claire dela Fuente (no relation but whom Sam calls “Tita”), Sam was Kapamilya for a few months (appearing in ABS-CBN shows, including Your Song and Alyas Paniki; and in the Sarah Geronimo-Gerald Anderson Star Cinema movie Catch Me… I’m In Love) before she jumped ober da bakod to the Kapuso Camp where she’s a regular cast member of Captain Barbell (which ends next weekend), the gag show Bubble Gang and Party Pilipinas.

She has done two other movies, Si Agimat at Si Enteng Kabisote and Petrang Kabayo, and is now shooting the GMA Films’ tween-oriented film Tween Academy: Class of 2012 as the teacher of wide-eyed adolescents (including Jake Vargas and Bea Binene, Alden Richards and Louise delos Reyes, and Barbie Forteza and Joshua Dionisio, among others). She’s also slated to star with Cesar Montano in a Viva movie.

Sam being the newest Body Beautiful (a “title” pinned on Vivian Velez, The Original, in the mid-‘70s), it’s but fitting to do not just a Conversation but a “Body Talk” with Sam, a Sagittarian (Dec. 11) who stands 5’6”, weighs 105 lbs., measures 32-25-30 and wears size-8 shoes.

Your winning was somewhat controversial. Some people accused you of campaigning, although I personally didn’t find anything wrong with it.

“I got a total of 6.9 million votes. Ang dami, ‘no! That includes everything — text votes, ballots and on-line voting.”

But the other (hopefuls) campaigned, too, didn’t they?

“Oo naman! The total number of votes for all 100 of us was 30 million. It’s only my second time to land in FHM’s 100. The first time was last year.”

Wow, what a big jump! Did you have to prepare for it?

“Not this time. I didn’t even prepare that much when they photographed me for the cover last year.”

So what we see is what we get? Nothing was digitally enhanced?

(Laughs) “Wala naman. Medyo may mga pinakinis lang ng kaunti here and there. But I assure you, ha, wala namang pinalaki at wala ring pinaliit.”

How do you maintain such a beautiful body?

“Normally, I just sustain what I’ve been doing. I exercise. I swim, which is a full-body workout. I swim at home, in our swimming pool.”

Wow, rich!

“The pool is not really that big, but big enough for some lapping. I swim three times a week.”

What other workout do you do?

“Boxing, with my trainer.”

The way I see it, your body is perfect. Any part that you think needs some improvement?

“Hmmmmm, I can’t think of any part. I guess all I really need is some toning.”

What part of your body is most vulnerable?

“My face. When I’m super-stressed, my face breaks out, nagkakaroon ako ng pimples. At ‘yung vein ko sa forehead lumalabas.”

And what part of your body is your favorite?

“Can I say my face, too?”

What part of a guy’s body do you notice first?

“Probably his eyes. And his teeth. They must be nice and clean.”

And what’s in a guy that turns you off?

“Probably if he has dirty fingernails. Yuck!”

What kind of diet do you follow?

“Right now, I eat whatever I want — pizzas, burgers. But I eat them in small portions.”

With your busy schedule, do you manage to take three square meals a day?

“Yes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, with merienda in-between.”

What’s usually for breakfast?

“Cereals. Corn flakes, ganoon.”

For lunch?

“Anything na nasa table.”

With rice…white or brown?

“At home, I eat brown rice.”

Any preference sa ulam?

“Hmmmmm, I like Italian food. Yes, I do eat meat but mostly vegetables and fruits. I follow my mom who is health-conscious. But I have a sweet tooth. I love chocolates, I love candies. If you open my bag, you will find lollipops.”

At her proclamation as FHM’s Sexiest last July 14 at a Victory Party at the World Trade Center.
How much water do you take per day?

“Oh, I drink lots of water. Mga three liters in one day. Or more.”

Soft drinks, coffee or tea?

“Yes, I take them, too, but not very often.

Are you taking any vitamins, minerals or supplements?

“The basic ones like Vitamin C, multi-vitamins.”

How much sleep do you get per night, the required eight hours?

“Hmmmmm, I get less than that…only about five hours per night. When I don’t have work the next day, I wake up at around 2 p.m.”

How many pillows do you sleep with?

“Four. Two soft ones under my head and two on each side of me.”

Do you snore?

“Yes, I do, but only when I’m very tired.”

Do you talk in your sleep?

“Not very often.”

Do you sleepwalk?

“I don’t.”

Your favorite sleep wear?

“My old, loose T-shirt. Butas-butas na pero masarap na pantulog.”

The last thing that you do before you go to sleep?

“Check my celfone, my Twitter and my Facebook.”

And the first thing that you do when you wake up?

“I turn off my alarm clock.”

How do you cope with stress?

“I just don’t let myself be stressed out. Hindi ko pino-problema ang kahit ano. Or, I simply sit in a quiet corner, close my eyes and think of nice things.”

What kind of music do you listen to?

“Everything. But now, hip-hop.”

And what kind of movies do you watch?

“Horror movies. I love being scared.”

Your favorite hideaway?

“The beach.”

How do you take care of your skin?

“I go to the derma for cleaning lang and facial. At home, I clean my face with facial wash and apply petroleum jelly on my face.”

How’s your love life?

“Zero. No boyfriend.”

Name three guys that you think have nice bodies.

“Aljur Abrenica. Derek Ramsay. JC de Vera.”

And three women that you think have bodies as nice as yours.

“Lovi Poe. Marian Rivera. Solenn Heussaff.”

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