Oct. 21, a week before her departure for Moscow, Russia, Miss Universe-Philippines Ariella Arida gave Rappler.com exclusive photoshoot and one-on-one-interview at 3 p.m. at the VIP room of the Araneta Center, Quezon City.

Arida rocked in a pink suit and nude peep toe heels looking like a flight attendant in the movie, "Legally Blonde." Photographer Niccolo Cosme did exclusive fashion and beauty photshoot with her.

She is now in Moscow and posted a lovely Instagram picture on her @araarida Twitter account:

@rapplerdotcom exclusive on @araarida @MissUPhils :) I feel very blessed. Thank you, BPCI! http://t.co/r2JDG8KKjy pic.twitter.com/11H7EaXCJn

— Kai Magsanoc (@KaiMagsanoc) October 18, 2013

Hello Russia!! Ang sarap maging Pinoy!! (So nice to be a Filipino!!) Thanks for the welcome #forthephilippines http://instagram.com/p/fxwRHwBqe5/ she tweeted on Oct. 22.

Here were some excerpts of her interview:

1. Her Experience Of the First Winter

"I'm so excited to go to Russia and experience what's it like to be there, especially winter. It's my first time to experience cold weather and I heard it's really going to be cold in Russia, especially in November. I'm really excited."

2. Her Weight Gain

"I have to really work hard for my body because when it comes to Miss Universe, slim is not enough. You have to be toned. I was a little bit skinny so I had to gain some weight and get toned. I'm still working on it."

3. Tomboyish Nature

"I never thought that one day this dream of mine (to be a beauty queen) would come true. I was sporty when I was young. My friends will tell you I was boyish. I never wore heels until I was 21."

4. Her First Major Pageant

"After college, I modeled for a year. I was a technical sales executive. When the opportunity to join Bb Pilipinas came, I had to resign from my job and focus on the competition. Thank God my hard work paid off!"

5. Her Training With Aces & Queens

"They saw my potential of becoming a beauty queen someday. At first, I really didn't think I could do it. I didn't even place in my first (small) pageant. I thought it wasn't for me. (Aces & Queens) believed there was something in me and that I could do it. They taught me everything - how to walk in heels, how to pose, how to answer, how to mingle with people."

6. Her Favorite Food

"Since I started going to the gym last January I've had to cut rice and salt. My trainer told me that even if I was slim I had to work on the water retention in my body caused by salt. I used to eat a lot of salt because I loved junk food. I've also had to resist eating sweets which I would [still] crave for."

7. Her Work Out Schedule

"Before Bb. Pilipinas, I would go to the gym three times a week. Now that Miss Universe is coming, I would go three to four times a week. I would train for two hours, sometimes three or four. The longest is 6 hours because of core and one on one classes."

8. Her Favourite Flush

"It feels fresh when you wear it. It can go with everything. It also symbolizes purity."

9. She As A Government Official: Know More About the Pork Barrel Issue

"If I were a government official, I would be a senator. I would like to know more about pork barrel and how the government is managing it (and the issues around it). My primary advocacy is also education [my parents are both teachers], so if I am given the chance to be a senator, I would work on that."

10. Her Social Media Presence

"My Twitter and Instagram are both @araarida. I have a Facebook fan page, Ariella Arida. The positive energy from the fans is a great form of support for me already. Seeing all the encouraging comments on social media motivates me to win the crown and to be a good representative of our country."

The 62nd Miss Universe pageant will be held on Nov. 9 at Crocus City Hall, Moscow, Russia and will be telecast live on ABS-CBN.

Watch Ariella Arida Ms Universe-PH 2013

(YouTube/rapplerdotcom)

(YouTube/UCGoa7ii_M5YMXtfm6uzD1FA)

(YouTube/UCYzNdgB6fvb2GaEBYkiGuJA)

You may also like to read more:
"When You Get There, It's (On) How Your Express Yourself": Miss Philippines Ariella Arida Snubs Critics On Her English Speaking Skills Read HERE
All About Miss Universe 2013 Just Revealed!!!Read HERE
Miss Universe 2013: Philippines Tops Probable Winner List As Three Contenders Have Filipino Ancestry Read HERE

RELATED STORIES