hen your boss told you to think out of the box, he probably didn't know you had actress and TV host Zsa Zsa Padilla inside your head the whole time.

Many of us have always looked forward to the Momshell section of UNO Magazine. Even with a bevy of single, young girls appearing month-in, month-out, our craving for hot, mature women never wanted. So we're proud to say that the drought has ended with UNO'S exclusive on a true goddess-chanteuse-actress-host, and most of all—hot, hot, hot momma Esperanza “Zsa Zsa” Padilla.

Ahh, where do we begin describing one who is called the “Divine Diva” of Philippine showbiz, whose appearance from head to toe has stayed as fresh as enduring as her remarkable career? She still manages to light up a room with her classic beauty, flawless complexion, and unceasing sexiness.

As the beauty clinic-chain that Zsa Zsa endorses proclaims, “40 never looked this good.” Of course we all can't help but agree, and at the same time think about those endless legs that make you wish they belonged to your own lady. But for now, we'll as just be good men and let her do the talking.

So how does it feel to be one of the hottest moms on TV?
Is that what I am? Hahaha. It feels good! It's like, my Dog, had I know it would be like this when I turned 40, then I would have done it earlier. And it was also motivation for me. Turning 40, losing weight, and getting back into shape. And doing it the natural way, because a lot of people have asked me. I got sick, and that was a good jumpstart.

That helped?
Yeah, it really helped, because they would say I lost like, 20 pounds. And I was keeping that old weight forever. I'd workout to death, but nothing happened. Pero it was just really about the food.

It's really amazing.
I know, and it really boils down to that. Just eat less, work out more. And I have a regimen now that finally, finally works for me. After all this time. Because I'm always yoyo-ing. I'm like losing weight, gaining it back-ganun. I'm more disciplined with my regimen. I work out five times a week.

Anything else beside workout?
The diet pa rin. I eat a lot of yogurt, and just one heavy meal, which is like breakfast or lunch, so that works for me. And I weight myself everyday, just so I know. But if I don't work out. I weight less. Probably because it's all muscle. So I panic too, I have a certain gauge. Like I should be between—only because I have metal rods in my back—120 to 125 pounds, and that's perfect. And I don't' want to lose too much weight na, especially sa mukha. I mean I'm 40, come on, let's face it. Diba, parang I might look too old? Some people feel that, “Yeah, you look good.” But then people say, “no, you're too thin, because it shows on your face.”

You mentioned about hose rods at your back. Where did it come from?
I had surgery for scoliosis in 1994. I have a big, big cut. So they had to insert metals in here. They call it isola instrumentation—the two metal rods. They could pain you, but I have bolts and screws also. So I ‘ll swim two to three times a week, only for twenty minutes, and I'm on the treadmill for like 30 minutes, then I do a loft conscious, yeah.

Never knew that “workout addict” about you.
Actually the combination's perfect for me, swimming and the treadmill. Before I lost the weight though. I was at the gym for like three months. I was attending classes, and working really hard, but I was just bulking up eh. So when I lost the weight, I lost the fat, the muscles pala were underneath. So it was a wonder to me, I was “Oh my God, I had so much muscle. How did that happen?” I'm careful with my arms, cause Pinoys still don't like, you know, a woman who's too built, right? I don't think you'd wanna go out with somebody who has more muscles than you, right?

Your father's the legendary boxing referee Carlos Padilla, isn't he?
Yes, he's the one really disciplined. And he taught us that discipline. He works out. He'll be 70 in April, ok? He works out every other day, religiously for two hours. He does his shadowboxing, he runs. He's very strong. And he's the one who constantly—he lives in Vegas, but he would call to say. “Taba mo ngayon a! Work out ka nga!” O kaya “You're too thin, mukha kang butiki!”

In the movie “Mano Po 2,” you played the full-blooded Chinese wife who fought with the other wives for sole rights of the husband. But in real life, have you ever fought with another girl over a guy?
Not really fight, as in “he's my man” and all that, you know. But I was in a similar situation, not similar with the “Mano Po” character, but I have fought for love, let's just put it that way.

Were you always the heartthrob growing up?
Huh? Hahaha! Really? No! I don't believe that! No, no, I never had a compliment that I was beautiful. Didn't hear much of it, hahaha!

Really? That's hard to believe.
This is funny. I only realized that, “Hey, I kinda have potential pala” when I was 23, because that's when I lost all my baby fat. So my nose changed, my face changed… and then I had a pictorial where I saw the photos and I thought, “Hey, I can be naman pala beautiful, kahit papaano,” parang ‘ganun.

It's a good thing you stuck to the though that you could be beautiful.
Because it was the only time I saw it for myself. Because I don't get too many compliments. And I like to go around without makeup, not because I'm overconfident of the way I look, but because I like my privacy in the sense that when I first appear, I'm usually in a T-shirt and jeans with no make-up. You're not attracting attention that way. But if you dress to be beautiful, then people will look at you. So as a Gemini, I have that side; but when it comes to having a show, or having to be this kind of person that I am that's my twin.

What's the best advice you've received about men?
About men? Hahaha. I wish I got it nga from my mom eh. I got married at 16. I had that thought na if you lost your virginity with that guy, you have to be stuck with the guy forever, and marry him, and have children and all that, you know? I wish that my mom taught me more about love and life. I'm trying to be that kids of mother. I'm friends with my kids, and I want them to open up to me about anything. Even about losing virginity and all that. I mean, hello. I have three girls and when it comes to that, it's gonna happen anyway. So I really talk to them very casually about things, because I really want them to open up to me because it's not the kind of relationship I had with my mo. Because they'd always go, “May boyfriend ka na ba? Hindi pa puwede ‘yon ah!” and then after that you'll always be hiding. I mean there's just so much to life. So I know what advice I got, probably, let's just put it this way—going through life, and then going through an early marriage and all that, taught me so much. So there.

I'm curious, were you named after the Hollywood actress Zsa Zsa Gabor?
It was actually my nickname, from Esperanza—“Zaza.” They spelled it different. I had cakes with “Happy Birthday Z-A-Z-A,” Zaza, everybody called me Zaza. And then I had birthday cakes, it was spelled as Zsa Zsa.

Oh, so it was originally Zaza?
I don't know—Zaza, Zsa Zsa. Any of the two. And then people would call me ZaZa, anyway. So until I finally grew up and I asked my Dad. “What is my nickname, really?” And he spelled it Z-S-A after Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Ok, so the fun stuff. What do you wear to sleep?
To bed? Normally shorts and a tank top. That's a set. Or pajamas.

What's the sexiest item in your closet?
Uh, probably a lace camisole that I don't wear underwear with, hahaha. You get the picture.

Do you prefer boxers or briefs on men?
I don't care. I think both look good.

Ok, having been with the Comedy King for a very long time...
Very long time, ok! That's good, yeah.

Haha! How important is sense of humor in a relationship?
It is! You wanna be with a person that makes you laugh. I mean, I work alone and it's so much pressure-people having to notice every little thing we have to do or say—so it's nice to have a good laugh once in a while, or every day of your life, actually. That's why we're together. It's sexy, it's attractive. It really is.

Having a daughter in showbiz (Karylle), and a college graduate at that, do you often get compared as to who has more sex appeal?
Hahahaha! Patay! She's really so conservative. I'm the one who taught her to dress up like that. I'm like, “Wow Kaye, you have to conform.” That's the word I used. I mean, just the right amount of sexiness is needed in this business. I mean, sabi nga ng iba, “At least swerte ka, ganun ang anak mo, hindi ka pinipigilan. Baligtad!” Hahaha! Pinu-push mo pa na, you know, just make the skirt a little higher. So I started to buy her these clothes. And I don't know, slowly she started to wear them, and now it's like second skin to her. I told her before I lost the weight, I was like going, “Ano, ipakikita mo ‘yung katawan mo kung ganito na? Do you have to wait until it's too late!” I'm not competing with her in any way. It's just that, also because of my work with [weekly variety show] ASAP, because it's basically “bagets,” ‘no. We get to do songs also that I normally don't do. And I listen to a lot of that kind of music—I think because it's fun, and it helps me connect with, to other daughters of mine. Because we basically listen to the same music, it. I don't know, it helps eh. I do listen to a lot of hiphop. And I like that kind of music. It's just that, siyempre I have to careful, I can't be doing this kind of music, and then parang, “Whoa, what happened to her? She's trying too hard,” you know?

Aside from hip-hop, what' the sort of music that gets you in the mood?
Mmm, I mean I've been around for a long time so I listen to a lot of different kinds of music that gets me in the mood. Sometimes it can be Buble. Could be the original, Frank Sinatra. It could be Streisand. It could be hip-hop tomorrow, it could be the Black Eyed Peas, today. I workout to the Black Eyed Peas, actually. Music is so beautifully varied that you can choose a kinds of music and mood you wanna set yourself into. You just choose the music, and you're there. You wanna be feeling young today, listen to some rap or hip-hop, or Missy or whatever, diba?

It seems you can get away with anything being beautiful and sexy.
God! Hahaha! I think you can.

How about in the past, have you?
I think you have, but how or, and you feel it., it's so high school, like when you first discover you can have boobs, right? It's that kind of feeling when I lost weight. I'm like, “Oh my God, it's so overwhelming!” I can just ask a guy to do anything, and he'll do it for me! This is so high school! But I got aware of it and was able to control it. Because it felt funny. You have to repeat the question, what was the question?

The question was, have you gotten away with anything by being beautiful and sexy?
Always.

Always! Hahaha! You know you do have that power, but you don't overdo it, right? See?
Because it's so high school, it's like discovering you have boobs for the first time in your life and men are going, your classmates are going, “Do you need help with your homework? Blah blah blah.” It's the same deal eh.

What do you consider the sexiest part of your body?
Hehe, mga question. I know-the lips. Thank you.

How about the most ticklish part of your body?
Oh God! I think it's my ears.

Does size really matter?
As lot. Yes it does. Sorry! Haha!

So we discussed sense of humor already. What else do you find sexy in a man?
I'm laughing na now! Haha! Um, I think his brain is the sexiest. It helps to have a good body but it's not number one on my list.

What's the craziest thing a guy fan has done to get your attention?
I don't know. Sometimes, it's just cute, you know? If it gets me and it's funny. I'm like yeah, that's cool.

Can you define your ideal UNO man?
I think all kinds of personalities attract me. Somebody, who's I read this term in a magazine, an “A-lister,” who's familiar with things that are in, and if Dolphy were younger now, he would be an “A-lister” type of guy, but he's also like an all-around kind of guy that everybody likes, right? I want an UNO guy to be in the know of the hottest places to bring a girl to. I mean, if I were young ha, di bagay naman kasi sa akin your question! Somebody who's romantic, who would take you over the weekend somewhere quiet—that would be nice. Or who would be just you love slave for the day. You know what I love most about Dolphy? Whenever we were together, even if he was the most important person in the business, and he had like so many things to face. Parang I can drop everything for you,” that's the kind of guy you wanna be with. You know, that you would be number one. So somebody who could prioritize you is an UNO man. Did I say enough?

Yup, I've taken down notes! What do you think is a good pick-up line for guys?
Start off with a joke. And just he able to, what's the word when you make fun of yourself?

Deprecating?
Self-deprecating, yeah… Haha, there you go, self-deprecating jokes, I think if you can start off with a line making fun of yourself, and it's going to be funny. I don't know, for me it is.

I'm sure all of us guys wanna know how they can get their girls to look like you. Any advice on how women can stay as sexy as you?
Hahaha! Sometimes I don't have time for breakfast, if I'm running a little late. So I normally have biscuits, yogurt, soy drinks. I mean, you can eat healthy and not skip meals. So that's very important for me. So finally I found one that works for me which I hope, will keep the weight off forever, I mean. I've never been this small since the ‘80s. it's unbelievable for me, when I try out clothes and I'm like, “I'm not a size 2” I mean how did this happen? I'm just amazed, that I just keep going at it. Also don't stop until you've really reached your goal, you know? Just be determined about it? So I'm talking to myself now, ok. Hahaha. (Articles lifted from Uno Magazine) - -