Chanel Thomas is quite a character. Anyone who knows the Filipina-Australian model knows it’s almost impossible to be in the same room as her and stifle a laugh—or keep up with her energy, for that matter. Blame it on her hilarious anecdotes, her loud and confident “dibaaaa” at the end of every sentence (complete with her strong Aussie accent), or her big animated gestures. “I’m kind of like a crazy kid, I’m kind of like all over the place!” she confesses.

In only a couple of years in the Philippines, the vivacious 24-year-old model has already dominated the local runways and major fashion glossies. Currently, Chanel is on a roll, having launched her own fashion blog Model on a Budget just last March, and a few weeks ago announced that she has joined Miss Philippines Earth 2015. One would attribute her success to her fierce features, or her svelte physique, or better yet, her spunky sense of style.

A tomboy at heart, Chanel prefers not to take dressing up too seriously. Planning outfits is out of the question. “I get dressed in less than 10 minutes! I’ll literally usually be in a rush and just be like bam bam bam, and I’m done!” But despite this spontaneity, she knows enough to swear by the classics, citing good quality shoes and bags as the foundation of her wardrobe. “I’d never get rid of bags and shoes. Unless I’ve worn them out to the point where they’re not usable anymore. (With) clothes, I go through phases, I always do a massive get-rid-of-everything (day), like, every six months.”

And when it comes to shopping, Chanel purchases anything that looks good, regardless of the brand or tag price. She also reveals her penchant for second hand pieces. “It’s always whenever I go to Australia—thrift shopping. It’s so fun! You should just try it!”

We can all be sure of one thing: whatever Chanel’s got on, she wears it like it’s nobody’s business. Ladies, take a cue.

Photos by Patrick Segovia