Pro Makeup Artist? Catriona Gray Can Very Well Be One Thanks To Her Glam Team

line
Get you a fast-learner like Cat!

Make way, it’s Queen Catriona Gray entering her makeup guru era ??

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is a woman of many titles. A role model, advocate, ultimate life goals and now, adding to the list is makeup artist! It’s a known fact that in the pageant world, you have to perfect your signature beat on your own as they usually don’t allow glam teams to join you for the stretch of the competition, particularly the preliminaries and coronation night.

For a perfectionist like Catriona though, even with life after the crown, she still loves a good ‘ol snatch, which she can do by herself. Fun fact: she did her makeup at the Miss U 2018 finals with only just a compact mirror and iPhone light! Her longtime makeup artist Jelly Eugenio, known for his precision, passion, and yes, that ✨plakado✨ face beat, shared their convo yesterday where he basically gave her a masterclass in a matter of minutes. For those in the know, he was also responsible for training Catriona before competing for the crown years back. So, this is like a refresher for the two, but much more conceptual. Peep their conversation below and learn a thing or two to get the beat down. (Meanwhile, we still can’t perfect our cat-eye ?)

READ MORE: Life After The Crown: What Are The Miss Universe PH 2021 Queens Up To Now?

It’s not the first time though as the duo’s been doing this for years, because when Queen Cat has engagements overseas or a beauty emergency, she can do things herself, with the guidance and final sign-off of Jelly, of course. In fact, the feline eyes and bold lip combination has slowly become her signature look and more queens have followed suit. A true trendsetter.

How do you even rock smokey eyes without looking like a raccoon? With a clean base, the key is to not overdo it and please, blend, blend, and blend all the way. Like what Jelly tells her, just follow your eye shape. He even drew a sample look via chat. And can we talk about how Catriona does it so quickly and perfectly, too?

And that’s how you do it, folks. Here, we echo Jelly Eugenio himself, “It’s so good.” Tens, tens, tens across the board!

CONTINUE READING: 5 Things You Should Know About The Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night

Renaissance Beyonce Act I Album

7 Songs From Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE That You Need To Add To Your Playlist Right Now

line
We're sure Uncle Jonny must be very proud of his niece.

The middle ages are now over as Beyonce welcomes us to the renaissance in her new dance album all about freedom, movement, and experimentation.

Related: POLL: What Was Your Favorite New Song Of June 2022?

The term “era” is used a lot these days to the point where most just see it as a marketing tool whenever new music or album is coming from an artist. But when you say so, it should mean a whole new chapter or dimension that will deliver to the zeitgeist. And when it comes to doing that, Beyoncé remains one of the few artists to hit it right on the bullseye every single time. Every album has always given a different flavor of Queen B while still retaining what is uniquely special about the superstar. And with the release of her highly anticipated and long-time coming new album, RENASSIANCE, Beyoncé has showcased a new form of herself, arguably her most unique to date.

THE AGE OF RENAISSANCE

With cover art that sees her sit on top of a luminous horse, RENASSIANCE was imagined out of Beyoncé’s need to find an escape and build a safe place to be free after all that went down during lockdown. The 16-track album does exactly that. The house, ballroom, club, groove, funk, and bass-inspired album finds Beyoncé at some of her most creative and experimental to date. It is an album designed to send listeners though a journey that encourages jubilation, agency, and movement. There is a reason why the visuals for this album are coming at a later time. The music alone is a celebration of a club era when anyone who felt like an outsider sought each other and formed a community where they can express themselves creatively through the rhythm.

Image
Image

“Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world,” says Beyoncé. “It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration.”

Her signature soaring vocals meets passion and purpose in songs that harken to 80-90s club, head bopping ballroom beats, and much more. Like with any of her past projects, she thought through the whole musical escapade, down to the smooth transitions between each song. RENAISSANCE is an album that should be experienced in its prescribed progression with an open mind to appreciate what it has to offer. With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the standout tracks from the first album of three acts that are begging to be played on the dance floor, or in your bedroom, no judgement here.

COZY

By the first second of COZY, the track practically begs you to bop your head along to the beat. The second track off RENAISSANCE is a self-confidence banger all about celebrating and loving yourself, flaws and all. No matter who you are or how you look, Beyoncé implores you to always feel good about yourself. And the way she says cozy during the chorus is so satisfying.

CUFF IT

Grab your platform shoes and flash the disco ball because Beyoncé said everyone to the dance floor now with CUFF IT. The 70s-inspired funk makes for the greatest of dance parties as Beyoncé sings about having a fun night out and living your best life. The mix of bass and horns gives this song that extra spice for a track all about having the time of your life.

CHURCH GIRL

RENAISSANCE is filled with interesting song titles like ALIEN SUPERSTAR and this track. So, when we first pressed play on CHURCH GIRL, we thought Beyoncé was going to take us to church. Instead, she takes the hardest left and brought the church to the club with its trap beat and playful vibe. The song asks you to drop it like a thottie and for church girls to shake ass as if rent was due in 10 minutes. It’s fun party Beyoncé and maybe the only time you’ll ever hear her say tig ol biddies.

VIRGO’S GROOVE

As a fellow Virgo herself, Beyoncé is known as a perfectionist who combs through every detail of the plan. Given that, it’s no surprise that VIRGO’S GROOVE is such a bop. While it is the longest song on the album, it will be one you will be playing on repeat. It’s six minutes of sensual groove as Beyoncé uses her iconic voice to sing a love song about being with that special someone.

THIQUE

The beat of THIQUE is so nasty in the best way possible. When the beat drops at the 52-second mark, it makes us want to start bouncing all over the place. Hit-Boy snapped with the production on this track by giving us this bouncy AF beat. And the way Beyoncé speak-sings most of the song is so good and so sexy at the same time. This is one of the baddie anthems of RENAISSANCE and we’re here for it. If you’re looking for more tracks with great production, we highly recommend you also check out MOVE and it’s proudly African sound.

PURE/HONEY

The spirit of ballroom is alive and well in PURE/HONEY. Out of all the songs on the album, this one has the most vogue-inspired sound and it suits the track so well. Beyoncé has always been a supporter of the gays and PURE/HONEY showcases her respect for the ballroom culture while mixing in elements of funk and disco as seen in the song’s finale. The category is Beyoncé and it’s 10s across the board.

SUMMER RENAISSANCE

Among the many samples in RENAISSANCE, SUMMER RENAISSANCE features some of the best implementation. Many of the song’s part were sampled from Donna Summer’s I Feel Love and Beyoncé used them so well. There’s a respect for the classic while still giving something new to enjoy. Listening to the song feels like we’re rollerblading through a sparkling night sky with that special someone. It’s four and a half minutes of pure disco love and serves as a great closer to the musical era.

Continue Reading: This OPM Playlist Will Make You Feel Like You’re In A 90s Pinoy Rom-Com—Beach Dance Scene Included

sandara-park-bambam-drunk

Shot Puno: Sandara Park Flying To The Philippines To Support BamBam Is Giving Big Sis Energy

line
Nag-inuman ang mga K-pop idols sa Gerry's Grill. Tagay!

It just feels right knowing that Sandara Park flew to the Philippines to have an inuman with BamBam at a Filipino fave.

Related: Liza Soberano Is Living Her Hallyu Dreams In South Korea

Even though it has been well over a decade since Sandara Park took her career to South Korea and the rest of the world, her connection to the country remains as strong as ever. She still is fluent in Tagalog and isn’t hesitant to let her inner Pinoy out on Twitter or in any possible platform. And her love and connection with the country is something she likes to share with her fellow K-pop stars. That was on display recently when Dara decided to treat BamBam to a Filipino institution, Gerry’s Grill.

TAGAY WITH DARA AND BAMBAM

GOT7’s BamBam has been in the country for the past few days thanks to his fansigns in Cebu and Manila, as well as the K-pop concert with Jackson Wang and TREASURE on July 29. Meanwhile, Dara and BamBam are label mates in ABYSS. So, given how her contemporary is performing in a country she holds near and dear to her heart, Dara must have thought that this was the perfect time to return to the country. It should be noted that Dara shared on social media in December 2021 that she wanted to go back to the Philippines after being away for over two years. And now, the pambansang krung-krung decided to hit two birds with one stone with her recent return a couple of days ago.

Given that Dara is the cultural connoisseur that she is, it was obvious she couldn’t let the chance up to introduce BamBam to the best of what the Philippines has to offer. So, she treated the GOT7 member to a favorite among many Pinoys, Gerry’s Grill. “@daraxxi she fly all the way to buy me gerry’s grill,” wrote BamBam in the caption along with a laughing emoji. Dara, meanwhile, shared the pic on her IG stories and called BamBam her little brother.

Like any local dinning at Gerry’s Grill on a Saturday night, the two were seen holding a bottle of San Miguel. And as further proof that BamBam is slowly getting into the Filipino culture, he even included shot puno in the caption. See, even two of the biggest K-pop stars in the world are down for an inuman. During the actual concert, BamBam invited Dara on stage as his special guest where they actually said “tagay shot puno”. Afterwards, Dara performed a special rendition of 2NE1’s I Don’t Care as a surprise.

@ilovekrungy_dg21 Forda tagay ang mga fersons ? #sandarapark #dara #bambam #philippines ♬ original sound – ?

BAMBAM’S CRASH COURSE IN PINOY CULTURE

Even before Dara flew to the Philippines, the two were already talking about Pinoy food. When BamBam tweeted that he was bangus, also known as milkfish, sisig, and lechon, she responded to him saying that he should try tocilog for breakfast with BamBam replying in approval. A relatable queen, really. Honestly, Dara and BamBam together is giving big sister-little brother energy.

Over the past few days, BamBam has been making sure to make the most out of his visit in the country. In his fansigns, he gives as much fan service as he can like removing the plastic barriers, allowing fans to take pictures and videos of him, and even singing his song, riBBon. There’s also the fact that James Reid, Liza Soberano, and the Careless Music crew have been showing BamBam around Poblacion like the buddies that they are. Speaking of James, BamBam called him a good friend at his Manila fansign and said that it was possible they could work on new music together.

During the concert, he told host Kring Kim that if he won the lottery, he would build a night market and call it “BamBam Shot Puno”. He also performed Ngiti which actually is a special song for him. He performed it in Manila years ago and promised to do so again. BamBam definitely made the most out of his Manila trip.

Continue Reading: James Reid Hanging Out With K-pop Idols Is The Friendship You Never Knew You Needed

BLACKPINK’s ‘READY FOR LOVE’ M/V

Be Transported To Other Worlds In BLACKPINK And PUBG Mobile’s Stunning Music Video For Ready For Love

line
BP x PUBG is the collab that keeps on giving.

As we wait for BLACKPINK’s official comeback this August, we first get an appetizer with the eye-popping animated music video for Ready for Love.

Related: Return Of The Greats: 2022 Is Shaping Up To Be The Year Of The K-Pop Comeback

We are now down to the last few weeks of BLACKPINK’s long awaited comeback, as well as the end to their nearly two year long hiatus, and the excitement is palpable. The group is pulling out all the stops with this new comeback as YG confirmed that their upcoming music video will be the company’s most expensive to date. It promises to be a serve unlike any other. But, as we mark down the days until their eventual return, the girls have an appetizer for BLINKS.

Recently, BLACKPINK teamed up with PUBG Mobile to perform their very first in-game virtual concert. More than 10 million people tuned in to the first day of THE VIRUTAL and to the delight of many, BLACKPINK performed a snippet of a new song called Ready for Love. And now, we finally have the full release of the track, with an accompanying animated music video that screams visuals and eye candy for start to finish.

READY FOR VISUALS

For those hoping to see the actual members in the video, you’ll have to wait for the comeback. Instead, the video features the in-game avatars of each member as they sing, run, drive, dance, and yes, fly their way through the PUBG universe. The video begins with virtual Rose on top of the iconic PUBG helmet in a forest. We then find each member in their own world of ice for Jisoo, desert for Lisa, and water for Jennie. As it progresses, the girls take risks on a treacherous road, swam in the sea, and transcended the universe to give the best show the galaxy has seen.

The animation, color grading, and visual direction on display in the music video looks so stunning. There clearly was a budget and they used it to make it look as good as possible. The action and effects deliver as they sing and dance on truly otherworldly stages. That scene of Lisa rising her motorcycle through the dessert was too good. In particular, the last thirty seconds are the MV’s highlight with its exceptional use of glass and crystal. When those two bullets hit each other, the final beat drop kicks in, and then transitions to the final stage, it made for a satisfying conclusion. Not to mention to the song itself is pretty good. Lisa’s rap, Jisoo’s bridge, and the final chorus in particular serve as highlights of the track.

Image
Image
Image

In fairness to PUBG, they really did it with Ready for Love’s music video. To any in-the-know BLINK, Ready for Love isn’t technically a new song. Snippets of the track have been played in their past documentaries (not to mention that it did leak two years ago). But even with all that, they still gave an effort for BP’s first animated music video. And at least, we finally have the full and official release of Ready for Love to enjoy.

MORE BLACKPINK X PUBG IN STORE

If all this has you hyped for more, BLACKPINK are set to have their second part of the THE VIRTUAL concert this July 30 and 31. The show, which includes costume changes, jets, and a new stage for every song they perform, can still be attended by fans even if they didn’t watch the first one. Come see BP in-game as they perform DDU-DU DDU-DU, Kill This Love, Lovesick Girls, and Ready for Love. To make it even better, watching the concert also earns you real world incentives. If viewership reaches certain milestones, PUBG will unlock exclusive in-game and real world events and prizes. Currently, PUBG Mobile are aiming to break the 12.5 million concurrent viewers record that Travis Scott achieved when he performed in Fortnite to become the largest music concert in a video game.

Image

Also found in the game are custom-made outfits the group wears during their performance that players can obtain, as well as a new BLACKPINK Voice Pack, with never-before-heard voice commands from Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa, usable in-game. BLACKPINK is ready for love, and we’re ready for more new music.

Continue Reading: Going Hollywood: See Actress Jennie’s Debut In The First Trailer For HBO’s The Idol

Russel Noche Tiktok

Russel Noche’s K-pop TikTok Videos Will Have You Seeing Double

line
500 pesos and a dream.

With a small budget, creativity, and a love for K-pop, Russel Noche has built a following on TikTok thanks to his impersonations of K-pop idols.

Related: Esnyr Ranollo’s TikTok Videos Are Here To Remind You Of The Happy Times Going To School

When you think of the perfect impersonation, what comes into your mind? Is it the accurate facial and body expressions? The wig and costumes? The setting? The confidence? Or a mix of all of them? For 22-year-old content creator Russel Noche, his TikTok videos where he impersonates K-pop idols aren’t exactly what you call big budget spectacles.

But for Russel and his many followers, that is not an issue. Because while he may not look like the spitting image of the idols he impersonates, he makes up for it with hard work, heart, and this lighthearted energy that pervades nearly all his videos. All this and more has helped the Antipolo City native attract over 200,000 followers and become one of TikTok’s favorite K-pop idol impersonators. NYLON Manila recently got the opportunity to talk to the rising content creator where he shared his love of K-pop, how he makes his videos, and much more.

LOVE OF K-POP

@superkawaii003 I hope they do more interactions like this #jangkku #JANGWONYOUNG #IVE #ENHYPEN #SUNGHOON @ive.official @enhypen ♬ DEAR.CUPID – IVE.official

When Russel began posting on TikTok, K-pop idol impersonations wasn’t his first thing he did. It wasn’t until the beginning of 2022 that he began copying idols. But don’t get it twisted, Russel is not jumping on a bandwagon. He’s a true K-pop stan. “Minahal ko po ang Kpop dahil po talaga ito sa influence ng 2NE1. Sila po ang nag introduce sa akin sa Kpop,” Russel shares. “Nagsunod-sunod na po ito at napasama na po ako sa iba-ibang fandom.” But aside from the music, what also attracted him to the genre was its positive influence on others. “Nakikita ko pong magandang halimbawa po sila sa nakararami. Sa Kpop po nagustuhan ko po ang pagiging hard worker nila para po ma-entertain po ang mga taga hanga nila.”

His bias list is long. Among groups, he counts BIGBANG, 2NE1, IVE, ENHYPEN, TXT, Girls Generation, TWICE, Red Velvet, BLACKPINK, BTS, EXO, and NCT Dream among his faves. As for individual idols, IVE’S Wonyoung, ENHYPEN’S Sunoo, Kep1er’s Hikaru and Bahiyyih, Red Velvet’S Joy, Stray Kids’ Felix, EXO’s D.O, NCT Dream Jisung and Jaemin are just some of the idols he has a soft spot for.

His natural talents to entertain, act, and impersonate was something he felt he had in him since he was born. “Babad po ako sa television noong bata pa po ako, Mahilig na po ako manggaya ng mga artist na napapanood ko.” As he got older, his others skills began developing, such as roleplaying in high school and participating in cosplay competitions. Now, he is using all that to his advantage.

IDOLS ON A BUDGET

@superkawaii003 HIT YA ? #HITYA #HITYAchallenge #Lapillus #lapilluschanty #chantal #chantalvidela @official_lapillus @chantalvidela_ ♬ HIT YA! – Lapillus(라필루스)

When it comes to making his TikTok videos, it is a one man show for Russel. From pre, during, and postproduction, it is mostly Russel. “Sa costume, make up, hair style, and editing, ako po ang lahat ang gumagawa nito. Kung sa outdoor naman po ang shoot, madalas pong nagpapasama po ako sa bunso kong kapatid.” As for how he decides on who is next impersonation will be, it usually boils down to two criteria. First, it’s an idol he stans. “Madalas po talagang pinipili ‘yung idol po na nakakapag-inspire po sa akin. Siyempre po pinipili ko pong i-impersonate ‘yung mga idol na stan ko po talaga.”

Second, it’s an idol that is requested by his audience. But when he doesn’t know who that person is, that requires an extra bit more work. “May mga instances po na may ipinapa-impersonate po ang viewers na hindi pa pa po ini-stan na group. Pag ganon, kikilalanin po muna ang group, kikilalanin ang members, makikinig ng mga music nila, at manonood ng mga vlogs at mga music video and live performances po nila.”

@superkawaii003 Her visuals ?? #JANGWONYOUNG #IVE @IVE.official ♬ original sound – ??

Making content, especially for social media, is not easy. Despite what some may say, it requires thought and effort. And that holds true for Russel’s TikTok videos. While he may not have an abundance of resources in his disposal, he still gives it his 100% each time as he flexes his creativity, ingenuity, and thrifting skills.

Titingnan ko po muna ang aking kakayahan kung kaya ko pong gayahin ang isang artist.”Afterwards, it’s time to make the costumes, the part he admits is the hardest for him. “Dito po sa prosesong ito, maghahanap po ako sa mga ukay ukay store ng mga damit na kagaya o kaparehas ng idol kong gagayahin. Sa helerang store, iisa-isahin ko po ang mga nakasampay na mga damit. Maswerte na lang po kung makahanap ako ng damit kaagad na kasya sa budget ko. Kung hindi po, baka tuloy parin ang paglilibot at kung minsan po kung saan saan na ako nakakarating. Hindi po ako uuwi hanggat wala akong nahahanap.

If he can’t find an exact replica, he then goes for pieces with the same color, and he’ll work his costuming skills from there. But that is if he has the budget for thrifting. If he doesn’t, Russel shares that he uses his own clothes. “Umaabot po ako sa punto na may masisira akong damit. Dahil wala nga po akong pera ‘yung sariling damit ko na po ang aking sinasakripisyo para magawa ko po ang costume ng isang artist.”

@superkawaii003

Sorry members, it’s harder than I thought.

♬ Jiggle Jiggle – Duke & Jones & Louis Theroux

Step three is practicing what he’ll do, both in the dance moves and the idols actions. “Itong proseso na po ito ang nakakapagod. Sa pag eensayo po ng sayaw maswerte po ako kung mayroong video creator po sa YouTube ang may upload na step-by-step na sayaw kung wala po mano mano ko pong I-slow mo ang dance practice ng idolo at tsaka ko po ito aaralin. Sa paggaya naman po ng kanilang mga kilos nila medyo madali nalang po ito para sa akin dahil may background na din po kasi ako sa pag acting.”

Up next is the actual shooting of the video, a process, which surprisingly brings out a lot of mixed emotions from Russel. “Feelings po ng pagsuko, lungkot at saya. Pagsuko kasi minsan po hindi ko kinakaya ang init ng indoor setting kasi po mababa lang po ang bubong namin. Mainit po kaya minsan napapasuko ako pero di naman po natutuloy dahil po mahal ko po ang ginagawa ko. Nalulungkot po ako kasi nag-practice naman ako pero bakit ‘di pa rin magandang tingnan ‘yung galaw ko. Pero sa kabila po ng mga negatibong nararamdaman, nandyan din po ang saya. Saya po dahil sa nakikitang mga ngiti sa mga nanonood habang nagshu-shoot ako. Nafi-feel ko po na chini-cheer po nila ako.”

@superkawaii003 Woman on the beach – JANGKKU [COSPLAY] #JANGWONYOUNG #IVE #SUNGHOON #ENHYPEN @ive.official @enhypen ♬ LOVE DIVE – IVE

The fifth and final step is the editing and depending on where he shoots the video, it shapes how the process will go. “Mahirap po pag indoor setting kasi gumagamit po ako ng green screen. Kaya po sa editing po medyo hassle sa pagtanggal ng background, paghahanap ng mga images at video at sa editing po siyempre isa na din pong problem ko ang storage ng phone ko. Minsan nagde-delete po ako ng app para ma-export ‘yung edited video.” All in all, from conception to posting, takes Russel between two to four days to complete.

VIRAL SUCCESS

@superkawaii003 How are you ❎ Hawaii You ☑️ #jangkku #JANGWONYOUNG #IVE #ENHYPEN #SUNGHOON ♬ DEAR.CUPID – IVE.official

As you can see, Russel’s video are very much a product of hard work and bottom-up creativity. With what resources he has, he makes it work. With all that put in, he really blew up in early 2022, the same time he started posting his K-pop idol impersonations. He’s impersonated Stray Kids’ Felix, IVE’s Wonyoung, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, and ENHYPEN’s Sunghoon just to name a few.

Does Russel look like he just stepped out of the Gucci boutique? Absolutely not? But that homemade touch is part of the charm and many of his videos have gone viral on the platform. Some of his best performing videos have racked up millions of views and hundreds of thousands of likes. “Napagtanto ko pong nakakakuha po ito ng attention kapag nakakakita po ako na may mga nag-e-edit po ng video ko po ng impersonation, nagkaka edited clip po yung mga live ko po sa tiktok, at nagkakaroon na po ako ng mga memes sa iba’t-ibang social media platform,” Russel details.

@superkawaii003

OMG LISA? ??

♬ original sound – Super Kawaii

And seeing his videos go viral, Russel feels all the effort he puts into his work make it all worth it. “Pag nagva-viral po ako nafi-feel ko po na nagawa ko po ng maayos ‘yung impersonation po. Nafi-feel ko din po minsan na baka napapanood na ako ng mga idols ko kaya masaya po ako. ‘Yung pagod ko po sa pag gawa ng costume, pag aral ng choreography, pag aral ng facial expression, pag edit, nawawala po lahat. Minsan po napapaiyak po ako kasi po sobrang appreciated po ‘yung mga impersonations po.”

It is this effort that Russel thinks why many of his videos have done so well. “‘Yung mga videos ko po kasi lagi ko pong pinaglalaanan ng effort. Nakakataba po ng puso kapag nakakabasa po ako ng mga comments na naa-appreciate po nila ‘yung effort ko. Feeling ko po dahil po ito sa effort po na nilalaan ko po sa paggawa po ng video.”

GIVING HIS BEST WORK

@superkawaii003 #duet with @lukecabxxx What an awesome dance cover of @Axllukecabiltes ♬ LOVE DIVE – IVE

Out of all the videos he’s done, he cites his BLACKPINK dance practice choreography to Parris Goebel as his favorite. “Eto po ang para sa akin ang pinaka maayos ko pong dance cover na nagawa.”.m As for his favorite idol to impersonate? None other than the 4th gen princess herself, Jang Wonyoung. “Favorite ko po siya dahil po sa bukod na bias ko po siya sa group, gusto ko din po unbothered personality niya against po sa mga haters. Marami po siyang haters, pero matatag pa rin po siya at patuloy pa rin po siya at hindi po siya affected.”

And speaking of Wonyoung, Russel recently scored himself viral hits when he impersonated her during IVE’s visit to a baseball game in South Korea. In particular, his impersonation of that video, with matching Gaeul side profile, is his biggest hit to date with over 15.8 million views and 1.7 million likes. “Sa pag-recreate po ng baseball game po ni Wonyoung masaya ko po itong ginagawa,” Russel expresses. “Sa pag-print ng logo ng FIFA sa tshirt, sa paggaya ng galaw at facial expression niya, sa hair and makeup sobrang saya ko po itong ginagawa. Natatawa lang po ako sa part na wala naman pong baseball field sa lugar namin kaya sa sementeryo po ako nag shoot.”

@superkawaii003 She’s so stunning ?❤️ #JANGWONYOUNG #IVE #WONYOUNG @ive.official ♬ LOVE DIVE – IVE

It’s no secret that the internet can be very opinionated. And when scrolling through the comments of Russel’s impersonations on a budget, you can find an eclectic mix of reactions. Some are positive, praising and complimenting the effort he has placed in the videos. Others, meanwhile, are usually lighthearted jokes, usually at his expense. For example, his Sunghoon impression gets called Suntanghoon. His impression of Wonyoung has earned the colorful nickname of Wonold, Loseyoung, and Loseold. As for his cosplay of LAPILLUS’ Chanty? One of the top liked comments calls it Chanta Claus. But Russel is in on the joke and is only here for the positivity. Like his bias Wonyoung, he doesn’t let the haters get to him.

Sa pagbabasa po ng comments, dinararamdam ko lang po ‘yung mga positive comments at healthy criticisms. Dedma lang po ako sa mga negative comments as long as wala po akong iniinsulto at tinatapakang tao. Kapag nakakabasa po ako ng mga positive comments nabu-boost po ‘yung confidence ko and napapasaya po ako ng sobra sobra.” As he sees it, constructive criticism is there to make him a better creator “Mas lalo po akong Nai-inspire na mag work hard pa lalo. Lalo na po sa dancing skills dahil doon po ako nagsa-struggle. Laking pasasalamat ko po sa mga taong binibigyan po ako ng chance na mag improve pa at hindi po nila ako sinasabihang trying hard.”

LIVING THE DREAM

@superkawaii003 JESSI’S ZOOM CHALLENGE WITH YEONBIN ” REMAKE VERSION” ??❤️ #TXT #SOOBIN #YEONJUN #jessi #zoomjessi #zoominzoomoutchallenge #zoomchallenge @Jessi @TOMORROW X TOGETHER ♬ ZOOM – Jessi

Russel sees his idol impersonations satisfy something deeper in him, a long-held dream of someday he himself might become a K-pop idol in the future. “Sa pag-i-impersonate ko nagagawa ang pangarap ko. Pano ba naman po kasi, wala rin akong time na makapag practice ng talent nung bata ako. Lagi akong taga bantay ng tindahan, tumutulong sa pang construction na gawain, aral, gawaing bahay, proyekto sa paaralan, limited access sa internet.”

His life up until this moment didn’t necessarily give him the resources to live his dreams. So, he decided to make it work for himself, with impressions that come from a place of love. “Ngayong year nga lang po ako nakakapag sayaw and content na nasa puso ko talaga. Parang malabo na po talaga ang pangarap ko na maging idolo tulad nila. Sa impersonation, kahit doon lang po ma feel ko ang natupad ko ang pangarap ko kahit sa panggagaya lamang.”

@superkawaii003 저희도 해봅니다 ? #ENHYPEN #JUNGWON #SUNOO #ThatThat ♬ That That (prod. & feat. SUGA of BTS) – PSY

As Russel continues to flex his creativity and expand his ever-growing list of idols he’s done, the content creator is proof that you don’t need to do too much to make people happy. His 14 million likes on TikTok should tell you as much. Now that Russel has built a strong following, you honestly can’t say never that he’ll get to meet his idols one day. And if ever that happens, he says he would love to be on stage with Wonyoung and Sunoo. “Sila po talaga ang naging inspiration ko ng sobra sobra. Gusto ko po sila dahil sa kanilang character, dancing skills and vocals, stage presence at higit sa lahat ang kanilang pagiging ‘sassy.’”

Continue Reading: How This 22-Year-Old Filipino K-Pop Fan Met ITZY 6 Different Times

he's-into-her-episode-15

He’s Into Her Season 2 Episode 15 Recap And Review: Last Act

line
Forda unexpected.

Is someone cutting onions, because episode 15 of He’s Into Her season 2 got us teary eyed with that ending.

Related: He’s Into Her Season 2 Episode 14 Recap And Review: Healing Night

You know what, we really thought things were on the up. As the penultimate episode of season 2, episode 15 was going to be the time most of our characters find their happy ending. And that did happen, but not without hitting us with a gut punch and one of the biggest shockers of the season. Grab the tissues because this episode got surprisingly emotional as it served as an allegory for what it really means to find peace in one’s life and to move on.

CASE CLOSED

Image

Following the fun and hectic ending of the last episode, Tito Randy now has concrete evidence that Tito Boyet did not shoot Dale and even called the ambulance, making his story true. As they present their case in front of the authorities, the Enrile family realize that they were wrong and finally take Boyet’s side. And just like that, he has been absolved for all his crimes and Tiago gets exposed for being a lying snake. With the case now closed and justice served, Boyet and Max’s lola decide to return to Mindoro to see their new house, with Max and Randall joining them for the weekend. Back in Benison, the class are given an important final project where they are tasked to take care of an egg as if that was their own child.

Max and Deib so conveniently get paired together, which might seem like a great thing, but it should be noted that they are still not back together. Deib asks Max what it would take for them to get back and she tells him that she needs space and time to heal. The events of the past episodes have understandably taken a toll on her as there is too much baggage between them at the moment for her to just jump right back in. And more importantly, she tells Deib that she won’t get back with him unless she feels true love and both are ready to accept each other, flaws and all.

DEIB’S SECOND CHANCE

Image

Step one to fixing their relationship is for their families to make peace and that is what exactly happened when the Enriles had lunch with Max’s family. They all said sorry for their past transgressions and apologized for not believing them sooner. The scene also showed a more vulnerable side to Deib’s dad as he admitted that he was wrong to judge them so quickly. It seems that all is right with Deib and Max’s family. But now, all that’s left is for TagSen to get back together.

With the help of Lorde and his Operation Balik Love, Deib sets out to do just that. He puts on the kilig moves towards Max as he tries to woo her back. He pretends to send a wrong text to her and shows up at her doorstep. But ultimately, it doesn’t work as one of his plans accidentally breaks their egg before they are given a new one. While this cute montage gave us the feels, Deib probably shouldn’t have done it in the first place. Max told him point blank that she needs space.

If Deib was really the changed man he wants to become, he would have respected Max’s choice and gave her the space she needed. But then again, it does show his efforts Max seems to be warming back up to him, because as seen in their wholesome (well, maybe not) ice cream date. Max’s confession in Mindoro that she would like to get back with him, and their call regarding Dale. And speaking of Dale…

DALE’S FINAL WORD

Image

Dale’s headaches continued and like clockwork, his ex, Dom, shows up. Once again, she shows up like a ghost to Dale and as our suspicions confirmed, Dom doesn’t feel like she’s there because she already passed away. Michiko informs Dale that he couldn’t see Dom because she passed on while he was in a coma. It turns out that the reason why Dom ghosted Dale was because she had cancer and didn’t know how to tell him. When he was in a coma, she visited him by his bedside as one of her final acts before she succumbed to her cancer.

Dale and his family decide to go to the hospital to see why he keeps on getting headaches. While Dale may have survived his shooting, there is a new threat on the horizon as he is diagnosed with AVM and needs surgery to fix it. It’s a high risk procedure that could end his life, but Dale wholeheartedly decides to go through it.

Later on, Dale and Michiko have a moment at the church where the two open up to each other. It was so powerful that in school, she gives an empowering speech on living your life to its fullest and not questioning your what ifs. She runs out of the classroom and visits Dale at the hospital. There, she realizes life is too short for delays and asks him if he can be her boyfriend. He says yes and the two share an emotional dance. But what feels like a triumphant and hopeful ending is all for naught as they discover the next day that Dale passed away during his sleep, leaving Michiko and the Enriles devastated once more. Who knew that Dale’s story arc would end up serving as the emotional gut punch of the entire season?

IT’S ALWAYS SAD TO SAY GOODBYE

Image

Episode 15 took to heart it’s title of Second Chances. It was over 40 minutes of people trying to redeem themselves, making peace, and starting anew. Deib wants a second chance with Max. But in essence, most of the episode’s movements were for Dale’s conclusion. While his passing is indeed sad and a shocker, it also felt as it this episode was building towards it. For starters, he found justice with who really shot him. His and Max’s family then made peace and ended their so-called war. Afterwards, he discovered why he kept on seeing Dom, her ghostly presence serving as his final tether that she was there for him even during her final moments. Lastly, he finally got to become Mitchiko’s girlfriend.

While it would have been better that Dale survived as we very much were rooting for them, it hurts less knowing that he went to the other side with love in his heart and his baggage resolved. If Dale was to go, it was one of the best ways he could have done so. MVP for this episode definitely goes to Donny Pangilinan, Kaori Oinuma, and Turs Daza for delivering the emotion that got us shook. It was an ending that definitely set up the stakes to the season’s upcoming finale that promises to be both fun and a tear jerker.

Continue Reading: He’s Into Her Season 2 Episode 13 Recap And Review: Break Up Season

nylon fit picks barbie-pink-nylon

NYLON Manila Fit Picks: Barbie Pink

line
Pink outfit inspos coming your way!

✨Barbie dreams✨

With the Barbie movie getting teased and photos on the set being leaked, we’re hyped to see the resurgence of the color pink. Films like Legally Blonde, Mean Girls, and Paris Hilton’s street style remains influential as ever. From Valentino’s all pink crew to Blumarine’s Y2K fantasy, the pink movement is going strong from fashion and beyond. Here are 10 of the stars who proved that pink is power.

READ MORE: 8 Jaw-Dropping Birthday Shoots For When You Need Some Inspo To Be Extra Cause Why Not?

JAYDA AVANZADO

Jayda pulled a Legally Blonde-inspired look with a pink dress for her birthday shoot.

BLYTHE

A real life doll, Blythe matched her pink cropped button-down with her Nike sneakers. Plus points for the oversized shades!

BELLE MARIANO

Sometimes, all you need is a pink mini bag like Belle Mariano.

VENICE BEKTAS

Venice Bektas shows us how to sizzle for the summer in her pink baby doll look.

KAORI OINUMA

If you’re not into the all-pink look, opt for pink cargo pants or boots like Kaori Oinuma.

KYLIE VERZOSA

Kylie Verzosa’s It’s Showtime ‘fits were too cute, even Paris Hilton praised her!

FRANCINE DIAZ

When you’re as fresh-faced as Francine Diaz, any color works. Just peep her pink coat with fur-trimmed cuffs.

KENDRA KRAMER

Move over, because there’s a new style star on the rise. Kendra Kramer is as sweet as a cotton candy in a pink fur jacket.

AC BONIFACIO

K-drama star or queen bee? AC Bonifacio is both in her pink tweed coordinates.

ANJI SALVACION

She really said ⌛! Anji Salvacion styles her pink corset with a button-down and denim mini skirt. An unexpected combo that works.

niana-ac-mitch-bffs

5 Tips On Making Friendship Work, According To Niana Guerrero, AC Bonifacio, And Mitch Briones

line
Straight from the talented trio.

Niana Guerrero, AC Bonifcaio, and Mitch Briones enjoy a strong friendship that has lasted for years. And the talented besties were kind enough to share advice on how you can achieve that.

Related: 8 Times Niana Guerrero And AC Bonifacio Were Best Friend Goals

When you think celebrity friend groups, many come into mind. But one group that has charmed the internet is Niana Guerrero, AC Bonifacio, and Mitch Briones. If you’ve been following this trio for a while, you know they’ve been friends for years, five to be exact. They saw each other grow up from girls to young women all while slaying in their respective fields. The talent aside, their friendship is goals and have made it work despite all being in the public spotlight, as well as going through the trials of young adulthood.

And if you ever wondered how they made their friendship work, you’re in luck. A few months ago, Niana and AC guested on Mitch’s podcast, Cyber Crush, where they opened up about their friendship, as well as advice on staying close with your friend group. Here are just some of the tips they shared that you may find useful for your own besties.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

As they shared in the podcast, Niana was the reason why all of them are friends as one day, she invited them to attend her party. While they admitted that it was awkward at first, they became fast friends that have lasted to this day. One thing they shared on how they make it work is that communication is always important. They said that they are always straightforward and honest when it comes to talking to each other on their group chat. AC then emphasized that they also do not overtly force their POV over each other. Even a simple “how are you” or five minute conversation is good enough for them. As long as you are openly talking to each other, you are on the right path.

KEEPING IN TOUCH IS ALWAYS GREAT

Some friend groups live and die by how often say see each other in person. But that isn’t the case for Niana, AC, and Mitch. Because of their busy schedules, they sometimes don’t have the time to do a barkada hangout. But that’s okay for them, because what is important for them is that even texts and simple catching up messages keeps them going. They shared that someone would usually make the first move that would get them talking. Even if that conversation isn’t long, keeping each other in the loop works just as fine. So, don’t always sweat if that hangout can’t make it out of the GC. Sometimes, a simple online chat is enough for your friends.

BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER

It goes without saying that real friends stick up for each other. And that is true for Niana, AC, and Mitch. Given how all three are in the public spotlight and have been so since they were kids, the hate and criticism they get is on another level. AC admitted that she gets self-conscious because of the public. Mitch, meanwhile, described Niana as a true softie with a kind heart. But even so, the trio have each other’s backs.

Niana rarely shows that she’s hurting even when she is, but AC and Mitch are always there to throw down and even send paragraphs. AC expressed that Niana and Mitch have been there for her during her toughest times. They aren’t hesitant to defend her when need be. And when they do find the time to meet up, they describe it as the time of their lives with hangouts always being fun. The catching up is instant and natural.

BEING DIFFERENT IS OKAY

If you ever find yourself questioning why your friend group is unlike others, stop it. As long as you and your friends aren’t doing anything bad, it’s ok if how your BFF group operates is different from others. Everyone is different and so too are friendships. That is something Niana, AC, and Mitch know all too well. When Mitch asked the girls what is it about their friendship that makes it different from their other friend groups, they shared how they are different from one another.

All three come from three distinct fields that rarely intersect. But as Mitch shared, even though they are different, they still connect, embrace what’s unique about them, and are open minded to how each of them think. They describe it as a low maintenance friendship that is still close even if they aren’t together every day. They operate on their own vibe that may not make sense to some and that’s fine. You don’t need to look for carbon copies of yourself to make friends. In fact, a diverse friend group that can still stay close after years is better.  

IT’S OKAY TO SAY GOODBYE

@itsmitch__ Can u guys tell we were bored?? HAHAHA @nianaguerrero @andreebonifacioo ♬ Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift – Mark

As much as we would like to keep the friends we make in life forever, the reality is that there will be those moments where we grow distant. Eventually, these people end up leaving our lives and instead of agonizing over it, realize that these things were just meant to be. During the podcast, the trio shared that it’s normal to move away from people once you start loosing that connection.

If that happens and you’ve ran out of options, it’s okay to let that person go because the last thing you need is to force a fix that might make the situation worse. Losing friends is a part of life. And if ever you reach that point, you will feel so much better learning to accept it. Friendships come and go. What matters is that the people who are meant to be in your life will stay with you.

Continue Reading: The AC Bonifacio Universe: AC Bonifacio’s Six Degrees Of Separation

alex eala Best Female Tennis Player In Southeast Asia

At Just 17 Years Old, Alex Eala Is Officially The Best Female Tennis Player In Southeast Asia

line
Another win for Alex Eala.

Young tennis star Alex Eala can add another achievement to her list as she just received her highest placement yet in the world rankings.

Related: Herstory Made, Again: The Philippine Women’s National Football Team Bag The Country’s First Ever AFF Championship Title

While sports like basketball and volleyball usually take up the lions share of attention in the country, it has been shown that Filipinos have excelled in sports that aren’t in the mainstream. Sports that aren’t widely played in the country have produced athletes who have succeeded on a global scale. And that was on display once more when tennis wunderkind Alex Eala proved that she is a tennis star in the making.

BEST FEMALE PLAYER IN SEA

Recently, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) released their updated world rankings, which saw Alex place at 214. With this placement, Alex received her career best career tennis world ranking yet. The achievement also means Alex enters the top fie all-time highest ranked Filipino tennis players in the open era.

At that placement, not only is she the highest ranking female player from the Philippines, but she also is currently ranked the highest female player in Southeast Asia. And by the way, she’s only 17 years old. Ever since Alex debuted on the world rankings a couple of years ago, her rankings have never declined and has consistently been increasing with every update. Her hard work and her wins have been paying off as she now finds herself in the top 200 best female tennis players in the world.

To date, Alex has two professional titles from the International Tennis Federation under her belt. Her first was in January 2021 when she won the W15 Manacor meet. Her second came in April 2022 when she won the W25 Chiang Rai tournament in Thailand. She defeated hometown favorite Luksika Kumkhum in 6-4, 6-2 to take home the trophy. This past May, Alex made her debut in the Philippine national team when she competed in tennis at the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam. The Rafa Nadal Academy trained tennis star ended up bagging three bronze medals in mixed doubles, women’s team event, and the women’s single event. And let’s not forget her historic US Opens girls singles championship she got this 2022.

MORE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

The past couple of weeks have been filled with stories of Filipinos excelling different sports. The Philippine national women’s football team made history as the first ever national team from the country to win a championship under the AFF. And just recently, EJ Obiena bagged a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon, the first ever Filipino to do so. And on his way to his historic podium finish, he recorded a height of 5.94m and beat his own personal record, the national record, and the Asian record. Because of that, he currently is ranked the best pole vaulter in Asia and the third best vaulter overall. The 26 year old proved once more that he truly is the best pole vaulter in the Philippines and Asia. And now, Alex Eala is breaking career records all before she’s turned 18. That’s called young sports star behavior.

Continue Reading: What It’s Like Competing In Obstacle Course Racing, According To This 23-Year-Old Athlete

Belle-Mariano’s-‘Kahit-Na,-Kahit-Pa’-Music-Video

Diversity Takes Center Stage In Belle Mariano’s ‘Kahit Na, Kahit Pa’ Music Video

line
Here for the inclusivity.

Belle Mariano said love is love is love in Kahit Na, Kahit Pa’s music video.

Related: POLL: What Was Your Favorite New Song Of June 2022?

When Belle Mariano and her creative team met to conceptualize the music video for Kahit Na, Kahit Pa, they could have gone the typical route. The love song, which was written and composed by Jonathan Manao and rising singer-songwriter Trisha Denise, is a touching tune whose swaying production complements Belle’s vocals. Given the song’s themes, they could have made a visual narrative that centers on a story of a couple in love. Love comes in many forms and is not just limited to the romantic kind depicted in mainstream society. So, what does it truly mean to love?Belle and her team must have thought of this too, which is why for the music video, they decided to showcase true love in all its many different and beautiful forms.

LOVE IN ITS MANY FORMS

Directed by Edrex Clyde Sanchez, the music video for Kahit Na, Kahit Pa revolves around couples and duos as they talk about their relationship before asking them to stare at each other. The video takes inspiration from Glamour’s viral video of couples starring at each other for four minutes. It also reminds of that scene in He’s Into Her where Max and Randall are interviewed together after the crew thought that they were still together. But instead of awkward conversations between two exes, the people in the music video very much like each other.

What’s admirable about the video is that instead of just featuring straight couples, it has a diverse line-up of duos whose love for each other ranges from romantic to parental. We have dating couples, married couples, parents with their children, as well as LGBTQIA+ couples. It touches upon the many different aspects of love, in a way breaking stereotypes that only love can be depicted between certain relationships. It warms the heart seeing all these people speak sweet words to each other. They may come from different backgrounds, but the love they have for each other, no matter in what form it is, is real and true.

The end of the video also offers a twist that Belle has been the one filming them the whole time. While there are brief clips of Max and Deib shown, Belle is mostly alone. But as she ends the music video with a smile, this also showcases another aspect of love, that of self-love and that we sometimes only need ourselves to feel happy and fulfilled.

MAGMAMAHAL KAHIT NA, KAHIT PA

It’s a touching video where it didn’t do too much but it said so much. No matter what kind of person you are, there is someone ready to love and accept you for who you are. Age, gender identity, or religion has no bearing on choosing to love and be loved. The video’s message of a love out there that you deserve is one we can all take to heart.  

Continue Reading: Belle Mariano’s Closer Music Video Was Like Watching A Bonus Episode Of He’s Into Her