With her penchant for breaking the internet these days, Bianca de Vera wants you to know that what you see is what you get.
Related: IJBOL It-Girl: Bianca De Vera Has Us Wishing She Was In Our Barkada
Is Gen Z the most misunderstood generation in history? That is to be debated, but many people have strong opinions about who they think the youth are. Lazy, inconsiderate, always complaining, you name it, someone has said it about the youth. Yet, we’d argue that Gen Z is much more than the stereotypes often attributed to them. This generation marches to the beat of their own drum, and no one does so quite like Bianca de Vera.
Button-down shirt by @ralphlauren
The young actress is what a lot of Gen Z are and aspire to be: carefree, confident, and not afraid to be themselves. In an era where everyone feels compelled to perform in some way, real aura can’t be faked, and you can count on Bianca to be realer than real.
A RISING STAR IN THE MOMENT
Despite it being a holiday and early in the morning, Bianca de Vera was all smiles during her NYLON Manila cover shoot as she gamely posed in each layout dressed in her favorite color, pink. From her memorable laugh in between layouts to living her Ariana Grande fantasy when the pop star’s music was played on the speaker, Bianca was in the zone. And considering later that same day it was announced that she would star in a movie with Will Ashley and Dustin Yu, she’s living in the moment.
“Honestly? Overwhelmed but grateful,” says the Gen Z actress. While Bianca has been in the industry for a few years now (and was even a contestant on Junior MasterChef), the last nine months have been nothing short of a breakthrough in how Bianca has shot to the top of the it-girl list thanks to her whirlwind time on Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition and the hype that has followed since. “Everything still feels so fast, but I try to remind myself to pause and really take in each moment. I feel like I’m living a dream I once only whispered about to myself.”
Since her time on the show, Bianca has stayed booked and busy with work that seemingly never ends. It’s a good kind of work, but she admits that she’s still getting her bearings with her new life. “Sometimes I still feel like that same girl just hanging out with friends, and then I’ll get reminded that people are watching, supporting, and rooting for me.” Still, even with all the love and attention that has surrounded her, Bianca stays grounded and has her eye on the prize. “It’s surreal, but I don’t want it to sink in too much. I want to keep that same hunger and wonder.”
Top by Adrianne. Jeans by @GAP
As one of the most talked-about housemates on this past season of PBB, Bianca had everyone and their mothers forming an opinion of her. But drowning out the noise, Bianca saw her time inside the iconic yellow house as an eye-opening adventure into honesty and compassion. “That I’m stronger than I thought,” she says about what she learned from her time on Pinoy Big Brother. “PBB stripped me of comfort zones, and when you’re exposed like that, you really discover your limits. I realized I could still choose kindness and authenticity even in pressure-filled moments.”
SHE’S SO REAL FOR THAT
Search Bianca’s name on social media, and chances are most mentions are tied to her love teams. But the Gen Z star is so much more than that. A scroll through her social media accounts will show the side of her that made a lot of people gravitate towards her in the first place.
Watch any of her many viral TikTok videos, and you’ll see the aura of a confident young woman who knows herself and isn’t afraid to put herself out there. Being an IJBOL queen in one post and serving looks in another, she’s an embodiment of Filipino Gen Z energy. It’s a kind of energy that turns seemingly mundane moments like singing (off-key) or jogging in UP into hilarious and viral moments seen by millions of people. And that’s just Bianca living her life.
So, where does this personality come from? You can credit that to being the result of a young woman who was raised with the freedom to discover herself. “My parents raised me to be strong but soft, and my friends taught me to laugh at myself and enjoy the ride,” she comments, adding that her upbringing and faith played a strong part in who she is as a person. “I’m a product of the people who loved me well.”
Some might think that the Bianca we see is a product of performance and optimization. But Bianca doesn’t subscribe to the lifestyle of letting what other people think about you run your life. It’s honestly not that serious for the Gen Z actress and race car aficionado. “I don’t overthink it,” she says matter-of-factly. “Life feels lighter when you don’t perform all the time. I think people can tell when you’re genuinely having fun, and that’s what I try to bring: real energy, real joy, even in the messiness.”
A lot of people love how Bianca is fun, carefree, and open with her self-expression on social media. But she also admits that social media is a double-edged sword for self-discovery and toxicity. “It’s a love-hate relationship. It’s where I connect with my supporters and express myself, but it’s also a place where I need boundaries.” It’s during these moments that Bianca tries to keep in her heart a reminder that a lot of young people can learn from. “I try to remind myself: social media is a tool, not my identity.”
If navigating social media can already be as hard as it is for many Gen Z, it’s doubly so for Bianca, who has to deal with the added pitfalls of being a public figure that anyone can say what they want about. “It’s not always easy. There are nights when words sting,” she shares. Yet, when people want their say on who they think Bianca is, she stays true to herself and goes back to her whys. “I go back to who I was before the noise, before the lights—Bianca, the daughter, the friend, the girl who prayed for these opportunities. That keeps me grounded.” Bianca really is that girl.
AUTHENTIC QUEEN
To be young is to discover yourself. This is the time of your life to mold and shape who you are as a person. However, this impressionable stage in your life also means you’re exposed to all kinds of content on that journey to self-discovery. Every other TikTok video on your FYP can feel like you’re being informed about a new trend to follow, lifestyle to emulate, aesthetic to copy, or personality trait to learn. Identity is then shaped by things meant for consumption, making it feel a lot less organic than it should be. What’s worse, you’re made to feel like not doing so is unacceptable.
The pressure to look the part and not be “cringe” is real. In the era of microtrends and filters, is it even possible to be real these days? The answer, according to Bianca, is a resounding yes, even when it feels like you’re the odd one out. “Yes, but it takes courage. There’s so much pressure to fit into trends or narratives, but authenticity is a daily choice. It’s not about being different, it’s about being true, even when it’s scary.”
She adds, “Being real, for me, means standing firm in who I am even when people want to box me into their own idea of Bianca. It’s not about always being strong or perfect. It’s about being honest, even in my softness, even in my mistakes. Being real is choosing to show the world the raw version of myself, because I know that’s the only version that can truly connect with people.”
People will say what they want. But honestly, you can’t please everyone even when you’re just being yourself. And for Bianca de Vera, what you see is what you get, because life is so much better when you don’t let strangers on the internet dictate your choices. “I’ve learned not to fight every battle. People will always have something to say. I just let my actions and consistency speak louder. In time, truth always reveals itself.”
BE REAL, BE YOU
With how the world works these days, it’s admittedly not easy to be real. If you aren’t being pressured to act or be a certain way, your perception of “being real” is warped by all the noise you face both online and offline. But what they don’t tell you is that the noise can be muted. Authenticity isn’t a trendy buzzword, but a choice that you can and should make. You should be the one to decide, form, and make who you are and want to become.
You have the power to figure out what’s best for you and what you really want. This is your journey, so don’t let others dictate what you should do. Live your life on your own terms, not for the satisfaction of others. You’re your own person, and that’s more than enough. Just look at Bianca de Vera, whose authenticity has led her far in life.
She stands tall as a rising actress, a booked and busy personality, and a social media Gen Z queen. And the best part is that she didn’t have to dim her light to get this far. In fact, it’s her unique light that helped lead her to this moment. Bianca knows her voice matters, and so does your’s, bestie.
So, take it from Bianca and don’t be afraid to be you, because the world needs more of that, not a mirage. “Don’t shrink yourself to make people comfortable. Your quirks, your softness, your loudness, those are all parts of you. Own it. The world needs people who aren’t afraid to be themselves.”
Even though she’s just 23, Bianca has already lived many lives lowkey. But as she lives through her best era yet, it’s admirable that she doesn’t let how far she’s gone change who she is. Those past chapters served a purpose in shaping who Bianca is today, and looking back, she has nothing but gratitude for that era of her life. “Thank you for holding on. You had no idea, but you were building me.”
Photographed by HALLVARD CANO
Assisted by JOMAR ABLAY
Creative & Fashion Direction by ANDRE CHANG
Art Direction by GELO QUIJENCIO
Contributing Stylist ADRIANNE CONCEPCION
Assisted by VIA ABARRA, CENT BERMAS, and WYN WYN MASONGSONG
Production Design by IDr. JUSTINN MIG ALCID
Assisted by JOHN LORWEN HONOR and JAEL FAELNAR from STUDIO TATIN
Videographer EXCEL PANLAQUE
Makeup by RJ DELA CRUZ
Assisted by MEL NADAL
Hair by JAKE GALVEZ
Production Assistants ELLA UTITCO and RICH ORPIA
Shoot Coordination by BIANCA LAO, MEGAN LIM, and MIKA CRUZ
Special thanks to our official food and beverages partners Stuff’d and Coco Fresh Tea and Juice, and our official coffee partner, ZUS Coffee
Special thanks to RISE ARTISTS STUDIO and ABS-CBN
Deputy Editor RAFAEL BAUTISTA
Senior Brand Associate BIANCA LAO
Get your hands on the September 2025 Unfiltered print pack featuring Bianca de Vera on the NYLON Manila Shop and SariSari.Shopping!
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