ANGELI Khang made a big splash with co-stars AJ Raval and Jela Cuenca in the hit sex-drama, “Taya”, which is a big hit now in Vivamax. Viva now is launching them as the VMX Crush ng Bayan. Angeli has a Pinay mom and a Korean dad. How did she start in showbiz?

“I started in 2016 when I was 15 as a cosplayer then I went into runway modeling and in 2017, I became part of a girl group where I was trained to sing and dance, then Viva discovered me at heto, nag-movie na ako,” she says. “I didn’t expect at all na first movie ko pa lang will be this successful at magiging crush kami ng bayan nina AJ and Jela.”

She had a sexy love scene with Sean de Guzman in the movie where she exposed her boobies. How did she prepare for it?

“We had a workshop before the shooting started to prepare us for acting and also for the sexy scenes we’ll do. Mahiyain ako at introverted kaya I have to learn how to adjust a lot working with other people in the movie. Also, si Direk Roman Perez Jr., inalalayan niya kaming lahat, one on one, to make sure magampanan namin nang maayos ang roles namin.”

Did she inform her parents that she will disrobe in the movie?

“I told my mom about it just days before we started the shoot and she understood me naman. Basta ang importante raw, wala akong tinatapakang tao. I am just thankful na binigyan ako ng ganitong break.”

What’s her educational attainment and would she try acting also in Korea? “After high school, I stopped na because I worked na. But I really want to be a doctor. Pangarap ko ‘yung I do surgery.

Also to be a lawyer or a chef. Hindi ko naiisip mag-try sa Korea. Sobrang strict daw sila roon sa showbiz hindi gaya rito sa atin, mas relaxed ang atmosphere.”

How does she deal with bashers and how do they deal with “bastos” remarks? “I don’t expect naman na everyone will like us. I’m just happy na that there are more people who appreciate our talent at kaseksihan namin. It helps boost our self esteem. About bastos remarks, tanggap na namin yung ganoon. E, hanggang tingin lang naman sila, di naman nila makukuha.”

Does she have a boyfriend? “No. I’m single at the moment. Nagka-boyfriend ako noon but it has ended. No regrets as it helped me grow. I just turned 20 on August 3 and I think I should focus on my career muna kasi napaka-once in a lifetime ang opportunity ito na ibinigay sa akin. If ever, I’d get a boyfriend who’d understand me at susuporta sa career ko.”

Who would she choose to be paired with in a launching film? “I will choose James Reid, ma-appeal siya and lahat naappreciate ang kaguwapuhan niya. He’s also talented and a great actor.”

What does she think are her qualities that make her appealing to the fans? “First day pa lang ng ‘Taya’, we felt the movie’s impact agad, kasi dati ang konti ng followers ko sa social media, but now, andami nang nagpa-follow sa’kin pagkalabas na pagkalabas pa lang ‘Taya’. In both Facebook and Instagram, from 3,000 tumalon sa more than 20,000 na. Hindi ko inaasahang magiging crush ako ng bayan. I guess my lot of hard work paid off. They say ang appeal ko is in my Korean look, and also my dimples at ‘yung nunal ko raw is an added appeal.”

Will she be ready to do full frontal nudity? “I want to study it muna. Kung maganda ang role, ang material and okay ang director and it’s really worth it, then I will give it all my best and my 100%. But I hope people will see the art and not just the sexy part. Later on I want to try other roles so I can grow and be versatile as an actress.”