Heart Evangelista revealed she was hesitant to accept the invitation of author Kevin Kwan to be part of Harper's Bazaar US feature on real crazy rich Asians.
Kevin wrote Crazy Rich Asians on which the now famous eponymous movie is based.
"I got a message from Kevin and a letter also from Harper's Bazaar US, and they asked me if I was going to be in Paris for fashion week.
"I didn't say no, but I wasn't going to go," Heart told the press during the recent media launch of her campaign Have a Heart for Aspins campaign with Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
Heart continued, "I called [Kevin] and I even said, 'You are sure I'm the girl you're looking for? I don't think you got the right girl.'
"And then he's like, 'You know, I really appreciate that you told me this. I don't want to paint you into someone you're not.'
"He just said that I appreciate you with your fashion, and I would love to still have you for Harper's Bazaar...
"Sabi niya na, '... It's good for us Asians for everyone to finally see us worldwide. I would love you be part of this,' ganyan…"
READ: Heart Evangelista named "real Crazy Rich Asian" by Harper's Bazaar US
Ultimately, it was Heart's husband Senator Chiz Escudero who gave her the final push.
"Chiz was like, 'You know, it's time na lumabas ka na ng bahay. Pangatlo na ito [work opportunity].
"'I think it's time for you to spread your wings.' Then I went."
In Paris, Heart spent her fashion week doing endorsement shoot with French label Sequoia, and breezing through the Harper's Bazaar US pictorial with Kevin and other Asian socialites.
The experience proved her husband right, "Four days siya, pero parang ang bilis ng pangyayari... For somebody who loves fashion and arts, couture—to watch the shows!" Heart gushed.
And the magazine pictorial seemed like a dream come true for her, "It's so inspiring na suotin mo yung mga damit na you just saw on the runway.
"They asked me, 'Which dresses did you like from the collection?' I said, 'Oh, I like this, I like that.' And then sa shoot, it was all there and it's like—wow!"