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THE "world's hottest mechanic" says she has to shoo away pervy blokes who try and ask her out while she services their engines.
Part-time model Tantin Legaspi Meneses, who describes herself as a "proud Filipina beauty", has been working with motors for more than ten years - first picking up a wrench at the age of 15.
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The 26-year-old said sexist comments from men doesn’t bother her because her main focus is her work
Tantin, from the Philippines, said she "doesn't need any validation from anyone", and prefers to work alone as men ogling her is “distracting”.
She told The Sun: “Guys who come and watch me work ask questions and chitchat, I just really want to get the job done as fast as I can without distractions.
“I have just learned to just ignore them.
“I didn’t become a mechanic for men, or just to impress anyone. I did it for myself.
“Why should I care what they think of me? The best thing is to ignore them.
“I don't let myself get affected by sexist comments.”
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Tantin explained how she first set her sights on the mechanics industry in high school, but teachers didn’t take her plans to enter the male-dominated world seriously.
She said: “When I was in high school, they asked me what course I wanted to do.
“I said I'm planning to become a mechanic - but they did not take it seriously, they thought I was kidding.”
Despite push-back from teachers, Tantin went on to take an automotive course aged 19 - and now works in her own shop.
She said: “I've been seeing and playing with car parts since I was a kid and I think working on cars is cool.”
The mechanic said the best thing about her job is the sense of fulfilment.
I didn’t become a mechanic for men, or just to impress anyone. I did it for myself.
Tantin Legaspi Meneses
But she also loves switching from glam photoshoots, to getting down and dirty in the garage.
Tantin said: “I work as a model also, so I get to do all the glam make up and be pretty - and then after, I get to be messy, get my hands dirty, not shower, just really get down with it when I work on cars, I love it.”
But she admitted working in the male-dominated industry does have its setbacks.
She said: "There are always advantages and disadvantages, since I am petite, I can't carry heavy stuff.
"But the good thing about it is that my hands are small enough that I can reach some nuts and screws that need to be tightened or loosened, which usually guys cannot since their hands might be too big. It saves time."
Tantin, who regularly shares snaps of her handiwork to her Instagram page, said she would encourage other women to join the profession.
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She said: "Don't be jealous, just learn to work on cars like I did.
"ANYONE can learn to do it."
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