They say it takes a village to raise a child, or in this case, make Barbie Forteza’s cover shoot a reality.
Related: Better Believe It: How To Map Out Your Future, According To Barbie Forteza
It was like the perfect storm. It was the first cover of our new era, July was the release of the Barbie movie, and it was also Barbie Forteza’s birth month. It felt obvious to put one of the most famous Filipina Barbies on our next cover. But more than just a cover fit for the moment, our fanzine with Barbie Forteza was one of new beginnings, eras, and how we can always move towards a bigger and better chapter.
In the same way we were entering a new era, so too was Barbie, who was fresh off the runaway success of Maria Clara at Ibarra. July was the cover for breaking new and uncharted territory. Want to know how it went down? We’re here to give you a behind-the-scenes peek into how this cover went from idea to reality.
NEW ERA BARBIE
When we came together to brainstorm who should be on our July cover, we admittedly cycled through quite a few names (some of which you probably will see in future covers) before we landed on Barbie. Barbie is the moment, and when her name was brought up, we knew we had a winner. Once our cover star was agreed upon, we moved on to the concept for the shoot, which was spearheaded by Kenneth Dimaano, and we soon landed on an unleashed Barbie Forteza who was ready to pave the road her own way.
We all know Barbie Forteza in her shows and movies. But what we aimed for with this cover was a Barbie like you’ve never seen her before. If people thought that we would turn her into a Barbie doll, we swerved left to envision the actress as the Bratz doll of your dreams, the one you were dying to have in the early 2000s.
“The creative direction rooted from the idea of 3 stages: unleashed, unveiled, and autonomy,” explains Kenneth Dimaano. “Departing from the conventional concept of doll houses, we unleashed her onto the open road, riding a motorbike—a symbol of fearless exploration and boundless freedom.
The second layout was influenced by the concept of “she wears too many hats” where we used pink wigs as symbolic representations of society’s expectations and the roles she has portrayed throughout her journey.
Finally, for the third layout, we removed all distractions, focusing solely on her to showcase her final form radiating empowerment, maintaining a sense of fun, and youthfulness. It emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s own voice, maintaining autonomy, and finding fulfillment in the journey of self-discovery.”
UNCHARTED TERRITORY
Once the contributors were booked and everything was set, it was on to the actual shoot, which went down at the brand-new AGC PH Studios in Estancia on a Thursday. It was a whole-day event for everyone involved in the shoot, with the day starting as early as 7 AM. But even if it was a long day, everyone brought their A-game. Stylist Ryuji Shiomitsu and his team curated pieces from local designers that complimented this edgier side of Barbie. “Inspired by the likes of Versace La Vacanza, Diesel, Blumarine S22, and Rihanna, the styling choices in all layouts reflect a departure from traditional fashion norms,” reveals Kenneth.
Violet Ocampo worked her magic for Barbie’s makeup as Jufel Gomez laid the fiercest wigs on the star. “The beauty aspect has numerous meaningful touches. One of them is the hair in the cover; we delved into the renewing era of NYLON with Barbie’s extra long blonde hair styled in a hime cut, with obvious pink tips. The symbolism behind this hair represents the arrival and reinvention associated with Barbie and NYLON’s new era through the fading pink tips,” recalls Kenneth.
Production designer Katrish Aristoki and her team brought to life the sets while Borgy Angeles’ photography immortalized Barbie’s unleashed energy. “For the photography, we knew we needed a fresh eye to translate the big idea we had in mind,” shares Kenneth. “That’s why we tapped Borgy Angeles, a young and upcoming photographer with an impeccable attention to detail and a deep understanding of youth pop culture. Our vision was to create visuals vibrant in color with a surreal texture to add a touch of whimsy and intrigue.”
As for the Kapuso Primetime Princess herself, she was nothing short of a professional, both giving the camera what needed to be given while also collaborating with us in certain aspects of the shoot. Barbie has yet to do any shoot like this. The out-of-the-box concept was one she had to get used to at the start of the shoot. But like the seasoned pro that she is, Barbie brought out that persona like how she would give a new character for her projects. “Barbie is such a professional,” gushes NYLON Manila’s Editor-in-Chief Ayn Bernos. “The concept really pushed her out of her comfort zone, but she showed up in character every time she stepped on set.”
Adds Kenneth, “Our team conceptualized the shoot while Ayn was in Brazil. We exchanged thoughts and collaborated on how to make Barbie Forteza’s cover a powerful statement that leaves an indelible mark for both her and NYLON Manila’s new era. Every detail was meticulously considered, from the set design to fashion and photography. We aimed to present a powerful and revolutionary twist to Barbie Forteza’s image.”
See more of the cover shoot by checking out the behind-the-scenes video of the shoot, which, among other things, sees Barbie share her experience on set and her life’s journey, as well as her fashion film.
BEHIND THE SCENES COVER SHOOT
FASHION FILM
GRAB YOUR COPY NOW OF THE BARBIE FORTEZA FANZINE NOW BY HEADING TO AND CHECKING OUT AT SHOP.NYLONMANILA.COM.
Fashion film director: KENNETH DIMAANO
Videographer: JR RAMIREZ
Video editor: GELO QUIJENCIO
Creative & Art Direction KENNETH DIMAANO
Art Direction JONARD PALTENG
Cover Story and Sittings Editor AYN BERNOS
Photography BORGY ANGELES
Videography JR RAMIREZ
Brand Associate ELYSE ILAGAN
Associate Producer MIKA TAFALLA
Associate Editor RAF BAUTISTA
Video editing GELO QUIJENCO
Production Design KATRISH ARISTOKI
Fashion Stylist RYUJI SHIOMITSU
Makeup VIOLET OCAMPO
Hair JUFEL GOMEZ
Lips DAZZLE ME
Nals EXTRAORDINAIL
Associate Stylists JOAQUIN RODRIGO and CHRISTINE SION of New Collective Style
Special thanks SPARKLE GMA ARTIST CENTER, CHESTER JAN SINGIAN, FELIX ILAYA
