Despite being born into a showbiz family, Kaila Estrada remained humble when she began paving her own path in the local entertainment industry. Even now that she has officially made a name for herself as a fashion-forward model and a budding leading lady, the 27-year-old continues to work hard and keep her feet on the ground.
Don't believe us? Kaila's makeup artist Chuchie Ledesma will change your mind! Over the span of their almost six-year friendship, Chuchie has only ever had the best collaborations with Kaila, even away from all the cameras. Learn more about their bond in the Preview exclusive below!
Preview Exclusive: Chuchie Ledesma on Being Kaila Estrada's Go-To Makeup Artist
Please describe the first time you and Kaila met.
"We met at shoot for a couple of Maybelline ads back in 2018. I knew she was Kaila Estrada but she was just this quiet and humble model who never gave me a hard time during the entire shoot. For the ad, I had to recreate a smudged mascara look, and for another, I had to make her brows look super thick. She looked silly on both videos but she didn't care as long as she did the job well."
How did you end up working together? How long have you been working together since?
"I was the trainer and senior makeup artist of Maybelline at that time and she was one of the models for an ad shoot. We got to shoot together again this 2023 when I asked her if she was game to do a test shoot with me. She must've liked the kinds of looks we did because we've worked a couple of times after that fun test shoot."
How would you describe Kaila as a client?
"When deciding her makeup looks, Kaila knows what she wants but isn't afraid to experiment whenever I would suggest a different look for her to try. When it comes to her as a client, she is respectful of the craft. She asks about my rate and rarely does x-deals because she knows the value of her team's skills. She is always, ALWAYS on time, and she'd make sure to let me know if she'd be a few minutes late."
What input does Kaila give when it comes to creating her looks?
"She sends different photos as a reference for the looks she wants to do. She explains the vibe and the look that she's going for but she's always open to small on-the-spot changes to make her vision even better."
How has working with Kaila impacted your career as an MUA?
"A lot of people now appreciate the fresh makeup look when I do it on Kaila. I am so happy that more people appreciate it now because that is really my style as a makeup artist. I don't like altering my client's face unless needed or the occasion requires it. I'm more of enhancing than transforming."
As one of her go-to makeup artists, what can you say about her personal style/aesthetic? How would you describe it? What makes it unique?
"She's a model first so she is comfortable sporting different looks. But, I realized that she would often gravitate toward the fresh 'no-makeup' makeup look with focus on either the eyes or lips."
Has your personal relationship developed since you first met? How would you describe Kaila as a friend?
"It's still the same relationship between us but perhaps a bit more relaxed and with more open communication. Kaila, as a friend, is a thoughtful one. She won't forget to ask me and the rest of her team if we've already eaten or if we're okay or comfortable."
What’s your most unforgettable moment working with Kaila?
"During the 2018 ad shoot, I had to make her look like she got soaked in the rain, with mascara dripping down her face. We had to do the scene a few times so the makeup had to be removed and reapplied the same number of times, too. I kept saying sorry because I knew she was tired and her skin must be, too, from all that re-application. But we both knew that we needed to get the work done. I would understand if she'd be irritated or grumpy but she remained calm and professional from start to finish."
What’s something interesting about Kaila that her fans don’t know?
"She has this habit of letting out prompts like "okay, let's go" or "game na" every after retouch. This helps us, her hair and makeup team, to be always on our toes to save time (we could get carried away sometimes)! She's also effortlessly funny! When she's comfortable with the people around her, she lets out funny punchlines with her deep voice and a poker face expression."
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