COVER STORY

adine Lustre has come a long way since her Pop Girls days. “I’ve been in the industry for a long time. I think I was around nine when I started in the industry as part Nof a girl group. Last year was really such a big year, biglang ang daming projects, and I just really had to go along with it,” the 22-year-old shares. It was with her lead role in the 2014 movie adaptation of the novel Diary ng Panget that people started to take notice of the young actress. It was the first movie where she was paired with , her on-screen (and now off-screen!) beau—and JaDine, one of today’s hottest love teams, was born. This was followed by more lead roles with James on Talk Back and You’re Dead and Para sa Hopeless Romantic. Nadine is now a household name with a primetime television series under her belt, On The Wings Of Love, which has sent JaDine fans into a -trending frenzy. The couple also recently held a post-Valentine’s concert aptly called JaDine In Love at the Araneta Coliseum. “This year, I just want to let my fans know who I really am,” Nadine admits. “With everything that I’m doing, people see me as a character that I project and I’m really working on slowly showing them myself, my character as a person.” Having started out early in the business, Nadine feels that her experiences have taught her how to keep her head up and stay real amidst changes. “I went through a lot of losses but at the same time I was also gaining a lot of things. I guess it’s the journey as a whole, from starting GLOBAL GIRLS out young, to this sudden thing that happened to These talented ladies are all set to take world me last year, up until today. I would call myself happiest today and I can thank all my experiences for that. It’s everything I went through as a by storm. Find out how they plan to do it whole—losing people you love, losing yourself, by Kathrina Paz Elefante and then finding yourself. That’s what makes me who I am today,” she admits. “Knowing who you are as a person and what hile the is cementing its place as among the world’s most beautiful, here are some more you stand for is empowering,” she adds. It is this on-the-rise ladies who not only wow with their beauty, but with their talent as well. What makes genuine desire to courageously express who she is that makes Nadine a true modern Filipina. Wthem shine even more? Undeniably gorgeous hair that transforms their look on stage and in front NADINE “A modern Filipina is somebody who is true of the cameras. These five ladies (pictured from left), , Rachelle Ann Go, , Julie to herself, who is not afraid to show who she Anne San Jose, and have been chosen as Cream Silk’s newest ambassadors, as they represent is because in today’s world, people are always modern Filipinas all over who are fearlessly realizing their dreams and potentials. telling you that you have to be this, you have to LUSTRE be that, for people to like you.” Whatever character she plays, Nadine’s fans Photographed by Ryan Ong • Styled by Veron Gonzales can count on her to stay true to herself—and Makeup by Albert Kurniawan (Coleen), Robbie Pinera (Rachelle Ann), Ting Duque (Nadine), RB Chanco (Julie Anne), Jelly Eugenio (Yassi) Transformed to this is what makes her the endearing actress and Hair by Lowell Buenaventura (Nadine, Julie Anne, Yassi), Raymond Santiago (Rachelle Ann) light up more screens person that she is.

18 | style weekend MARCH 4, 2016 MARCH 4, 2016 style weekend | 19 wasn’t like this before and I didn’t he can do it all—acting, singing, think I could be where I am today,” composing, and hosting—yet Julie Yassi Pressman admits. The half- Anne San Jose knows there is more British and half-Filipino MTV Pinoy to learn and discover about herself. VJ, actress, dancer, and singer got “I’m currently exploring my capacities her“I first movie lead role in 2013 for Kaleidoscope andS learning new stuff. I’d say I’ve changed my World, which was the first dance film entry to style when it comes to fashion and my music the Metro Film Festival. She also released has evolved. Right now, I’m trying to innovate a six-track album that features the song “Di Ko and give it a twist,” says the 21-year-old who Alam,” her duet with partner Andre currently plays Darling Buena in the GMA7 Paras and is part of the Diary ng Panget movie drama show Buena Familia and regularly performs soundtrack in which the two also starred. in the weekly variety show Sunday PinaSaya. “I really never would have thought that I’d be Aside from her regular acting projects, her doing what I’m doing today. Everything happened musical career is also worthy of note. Her single as an accident, a series of events. I loved dancing “I’ll Be There” has received numerous awards and so I honed it. For singing, I always thought it is a certified double platinum, triple platinum, would just be in the shower but Viva saw my and quadruple platinum, while her major concert potential. Before, my acting roles were just minor back in 2014 proved to be groundbreaking as characters but now they are more relevant,” adds it was the first concert in the country to use Yassi. hologram technology. More recently, she starred in the film This year, she is set to release a new album adaptation of the Wattpad novel Girlfriend for and is looking forward to doing more concerts Hire with Andre and is currently one of the hosts and touring. I want to travel, have a Master’s of the new TV5 singing competition Born to be a degree, and do more charity works,” she adds Star. to her goals for the year. Her desire to grow in Yassi’s career is definitely on the upswing. her career and personal life makes Julie Anne “Career-wise, this year has started so well for me unstoppable and perfectly epitomizes the modern and with everything that’s happening, I feel like Filipina—passionate, driven, and confident. “The I’ve already reached my goals,” she says but there key to being an empowered woman is confidence. is one thing she would like to do that has nothing If we believe in ourselves and if we focus, to do with work. “I want to climb a mountain. I anything is possible,” she shares. love heights. It’s so calming. You feel that your “A modern Filipina has strong values, and is problems are so small in this whole universe,” confident, strong, and unafraid of changes. She she muses. has goals and she knows her priorities. I can say Yassi is thankful for a flourishing career that I try to embody all of these,” Julie Anne and she owes her confidence to pursue these adds. “Knowing that I inspire people, the youth opportunities to the people around her. “One of most especially, makes me feel beautiful. Making the challenges I’ve encountered is being told that people happy and being able to share my talents you can’t do this or that. One thing that helped with them is a humbling experience,” she shares. me deal with that is having the support of my Living in this fast-paced age, one can easily dad. He’s my everything,” she reveals. “Believing lose her sense of self but Julie Anne chooses to in yourself and surrounding yourself with people see it in a positive light. “Being a woman in the who believe in you as well is the key to becoming modern world can be harsh but the best thing empowered. With that, you can conquer the about it is that we can be what we want to be. world.” We live in a world where anything is possible. We YASSI Yassi believes that being confidently beautiful have opportunities here and there. We evolve and JULIE ANNE with a heart characterizes the modern Filipina, as we have more things to explore. We’re free to be expressed by Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach. “It’s what we want, to pursue what we dream of, and about fighting for what you believe in and never go to places where we can get to know ourselves PRESSMAN giving up.” more.” SAN JOSE At the rate she’s going, Yassi will surely Owning the spotlight—that is perhaps the conquer more of her personal mountains, making most important thing Julie Anne stands for. Transformed to a steady ascent to the top where she can revel in Transformed to a leading actress the magnificent view. own the stage

20 | style weekend MARCH 4, 2016 MARCH 4, 2016 style weekend | 21 he phrase “all the world’s a stage” rings true for Rachelle Ann Go. You may remember her as a pop singer, recording artist, and performer on variety shows oleen Garcia perfectly embodies these past years. “strong is the new sexy” and it’s T“I started at a young age. I used to join not just about her sexy bod (which amateur singing competitions then I joined Search has given women some needed for a Star back in 2004 and from there I recorded fitspiration). The 23-year-old host , TV, concerts, and tours,” she narrates. Cand actress’ sweet and charming demeanor is The year 2010 was a turning point in a stark contrast to her inner strength and solid Rachelle’s career when she decided to take a self-awareness, something that characterizes the big risk. “There was an opportunity to audition modern Filipina. for The Little Mermaid Musical and I was asked if “The modern Filipina is somebody who is I wanted to try out but I said ‘I don’t have the confident in her own skin, who doesn’t need background and training for that.’ But then, I much to show the world that she is beautiful, and thought, why not try something new?” she shares. is everything that she wants to be and doesn’t let Playing the lead role of Ariel was her first foray anybody hold her down,” she shares. into theater. “When I did Little Mermaid, I fell in “Every single experience that I went through love with theater and musicals.” She did in my life definitely contributed to molding next, playing the role of Jane Porter. me into the woman I am now.” She adds, “The Rachelle’s shift from pop music to musical hardest of times and the easiest; it’s good to theater required her to step out of her comfort have that contrast in your life. It gives you the zone. In 2014, she was cast for the role of Gigi realization that life is really full of color.” Van Tranh in the West End production of Miss Coleen has been known as a noontime show Saigon. “I was so scared to do it because it was for host but her recent rediscovery of her love for the audience and I was going to be living acting served as a turning point in her career. alone for the first time. I took a risk and it gave “Acting again gave me so much perspective. I me new life and new music,” she says. “When I tried it before and I didn’t feel like it was working was a kid, I never thought of doing theater and for me because I wasn’t enjoying it so much but living abroad. All I wanted was to have an album I feel like I had to look deeper within myself. and do a concert.” That’s a good thing because nothing changed After a year of , she arrived at apart from what was within me. I really searched another crossroad—reprise her role or take on a for a way to release my emotions in my roles new challenge and audition for Les Misérables. “I and it turned out to be a very unique feeling, watched Les Mis in London. When Fantine came something that I won’t feel in any other job,” she out, I said to myself ‘I’m going to do that role.’ I reveals. She is currently on the TV drama Pasion claimed it,” she reveals. “I went through a lot of de Amor and has an upcoming movie with Piolo levels of auditions. [Producer] Cameron Mack- Pascual and . intosh was there for the final audition and it was It’s easy to lose yourself in the ever-changing nerve-racking!” and dizzying pace of showbiz but Coleen stands Probably the best thing about being part of Les strong, carving her own path and owning every Mis is the chance for Rachelle to perform in her step. “My story makes me feel confident and home country. “I was so excited when they asked beautiful. I was told once that when you’re lost me to play Fantine in my hometown. My family and when you’re clueless on where to go, just and friends are here [in the Philippines] so finally look into your core.” they’ll be seeing the work I’ve been doing in Lon- “My personal journey definitely includes don.” The show is scheduled to begin its run this keeping myself intact, because there will always March 11. be people who will try to change you, who will Her passion for her craft and belief in herself try to tell you that you are something that you’re has empowered Rachelle to achieving even more. COLEEN not, and the best that you can do is to really hold “I want to do bigger roles. Maybe I can go from RACHELLE ANN on to who you are.” West End to Broadway, who knows? I also want Her strong sense of self has served as her to record an album with all-original music,” she inner compass. “Beauty is made up of a lot shares. “I am a dreamer. I feel like I have so much GARCIA of small things. It’s not just one big trait that more to give.” GO somebody has. Everything about a person, Rachelle’s journey is proof that changing once it’s wholly embraced, makes that person courses and taking on the unfamiliar route, Transformed to stand stronger beautiful. You’re beautiful because of a lot of though intimidating and uncomfortable at first, Transformed to components that make you who you are. When has its rewards and that fear of the unknown must you put them all together and accept that about not paralyze you. “The key is to believe in yourself take on the world stage yourself, that’s when you know you’re beautiful.” and in what you can do. You have to make things For Coleen, truth is not found in external possible. You shouldn’t be afraid of taking a risk. things—she only has to look within herself. Be brave and confident,” she says.

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