WRITTEN BY FRANCESA JANA SANTIAGO

Looking back at our past, Filipino beauty is anything BUT Filipino. We have a long and complicated history of patronizing the standards set by our colonizers rather than what we naturally have. Fortunately, this digital age is being taken advantage of by a generation that’s set on redefining true and traditional Filipino beauty.

Most of us may have grown up in households where the media we consume introduces only certain types of beauty that are supposedly deemed as acceptable. This soon evolved into a toxic mindset that unconsciously gets passed on. That was until social media entered the picture and the likes of Bretman Rock and Patrick Starrr—who are just two of the many recognized influencers today—started proudly flaunting the Pinoy charm they were born with! Bretman rose to fame in 2015 with his makeup tutorials, giving him the opportunity to reach audiences who haven’t seen an openly queer teenage boy put makeup on before. Moreover, Patrick Starrr’s internet fame has not only brought him collaborations with celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian but also gave him a way to dedicate his brand to the creation of inclusive beauty spaces.

Both Bretman and Patrick went against everything (and that includes their family’s dream of them becoming nurses!) they were expected to be and seeing them thrive online decreases the underrepresentation us Filipinos have in mainstream media. By being their authentic selves, which the world clearly embraced, they built their followings on social media and were able to create tangible change and a cultural shift in the industry. To know more about the impact they’ve made, check out this episode of The Chismis, or head on to this One Down social post to learn about other influential LGBTQ+ Filipinxs!