Philippine Showbiz’s New Generation of ‘It Girls’
Many perceive that being an ‘It Girl’ mainly requires beauty, confidence, style, and other enchanting personalities. In a Savour Flair article, the term was first coined in the 1927 silent film It, which according to its scriptwriter Elinor Glyn, simply means ‘someone that everyone wants to be’.
In Philippine show business, female celebrities possessing the mentioned facets were placed in the limelight. They are the It Girls who become the trendsetters, beauty standard, and even inspirations to those starting and aspiring to take a career in the entertainment industry.
Over the past decades, Filipinos witnessed numerous female showbiz personalities branded as the It Girls of their respective generations. We have Sharon Cuneta, Vilma Santos, and Nora Aunor in the ’70s to ’80s; Judy Ann Santos, Jolina Magdangal, Claudine Baretto, and Christine Hermosa in the ’90s and early 2000s; Anne Curtis, Heart Evangelista, Bea Alonzo, and Angel Locsin in 2000s; Kathryn Bernardo, Nadine Lustre, Liza Soberano, and Julia Baretto in previous years.
These rising female artists are currently making waves in the entertainment industry and are admired by many for being the newest It Girls of this generation, not just physically but also through the lens of their talent and stories.
Belle Mariano
Belle started her career by appearing in television commercials and playing supporting roles in various TV series. She joined the regular cast of the kiddie gag show Goin’ Bulilit in 2012. Her portrayal of Maxpein del Valle in the TV series adaptation of Wattpad novel He’s Into Her boosted her popularity.
In an interview, she admitted being hurt and affected by the backlash received from some of the novel’s fans upon the announcement of the cast. However, Belle giving justice to the character proved that she is more than the hateful and negative comments.
In 2021, she debuted as a singer by releasing her first single Sigurado, joining the official soundtracks of the said series. The TV adaptation was hailed as the most-watched series on iWantTFC in the same year.
Currently at the peak of her career evident in the successive projects, endorsements, and awards, her humility remains. The young artist never missed expressing gratitude to her fans and supporters for every milestone she achieved.
Andrea Brillantes
Andrea’s development from childhood to adulthood was like an open book considering she commenced as a child actress. Her iconic antagonistic role as Marga in Kadenang Ginto exhibited her versatility in acting. The former child star is famous for her signature thick eyebrows complimenting her captivating beauty.
She trended for her musical.ly videos way back in her teenage years wherein numerous compilations were uploaded online by her fans. With 13.6 million followers on Instagram and 19 million on TikTok, she truly manifests the glitz of prominence. She also placed fifth on the Philippines’ Top 10 Instagram earners in 2021 grossing around P75 million pesos.
The official launch of her own makeup brand Lucky Beauty last February 22 showed she is capable of going beyond as an artist. That aside from acting, she can also thrive in business, as its face and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Francine Diaz
Francine also began her showbiz career as a child star. Her popularity rose from starring in the afternoon drama series Kadenang Ginto along with Andrea Brillantes. She played the role of Cassie, a soft-spoken yet valiant member of the Mondragon household.
The angelic features and soft-girl vibes she radiates accompanied by her bubbly personality capture the heart of many. Through her weekly vlog Simply Francine, fans can get a glimpse of her natural and carefree self, such a burst of sunshine indeed.
Kaori Oinuma
Kaori pursued her acting career after being a finalist in the 8th season of Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) a television reality series. Even prior to being an official housemate, her PBB audition photos went viral on social media. The Japanese blood evident in her beauty indeed caught the netizen’s attention.
She starred in two different Wattpad novels adapted into a series. First is the Four Bad Boys and Me, a digital series in 2020 where she played the female lead character. While she worked with Belle Mariano in the He’s Into Her TV series in a supporting role.
Despite the conflict that occurred with her former on-screen partner, Kaori continued her project film Love at First Read. Cathy Garcia Molina directed the movie and was among the entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival 2021. From that point, she proved that she can bloom on her own.
Criza Taa
Like Kaori, Criza entered showbiz by joining PBB season 8. Regardless of her short stay as a housemate, both her face value and talent led her toward the entertainment world. Thereafter she appeared in TV series such as Kadenang Ginto, He’s Into Her, Flower of Evil (Philippine adaptation), etc.
Criza’s ‘Get ready with me’ TikTok videos are gaining millions of views as her chatty and outgoing personality elates many. The emerging artist also released her first vlog last April highlighting her Star Magic Prom 2023 experience. She went to the promenade alone, which she perceived as a symbol of her reaching another career breakthrough independently. Probably many are excited to see her starring in more acting projects.
