Following the lead of fellow "StarStruck" alum Katrina Halili, Iwa Moto, Cristine Reyes and Jennylyn Mercado is LJ Reyes who now appears in the December issue of popular men's magazine FHM.

Although talks about the young actress appearing in the pages of the magazine had been going on since last year, Reyes' move proved to be surprising for co-actors Mike Tan and JC de Vera.

"I've heard about it and I would say I'm surprised...but I'm proud [of what she did]," says Mike.

JC echoes the sentiment: "I was surprised...I haven't seen it yet but I just know she did a good job."

According to Reyes, she was already supposed to pose for the magazine way back in 2007 but she hesitated.

"I really didn't want to. I really thought I didn't have what it takes [to be a cover girl]," she intimates.

Her trepidation is shared by relatives with one aunt even 'bribing' her with cash to dissuade her from disrobing before the cameras.

It was GMA-7 management who first urged Reyes to try the idea.

"They suggested it to me and told me to think about it. In the end, they were the ones who told me not to do it as I might be compared to Iwa and Katrina...and I don't have [large enough] boobs to begin with," she says with a laugh.

Reyes' entry to show business was through the reality TV show "StarStruck." She was part of Batch 2. Her big break came via a villain role in "Zaido." She then played a part in the popular soap "Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita." 

She got the nod of critics with her appearance on "Sine Novela: Una Kang Naging Akin" in which she was paired with former flame Alfred Vargas. LJ will soon join the cast of long-running gag show "Bubble Gang."

Critics agree that posing for FHM is Reyes hinting for possible consideration for more "mature" roles.