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It's a Full House! Meet the 32 Preview Pride 2024 Cover Stars
All hailing from different fields of entertainment, these personalites are championing queer narratives both in front and behind the camera.
by Em Enriquez
Published Jun 10, 2024
A total of 32 LGBTQIA+ artists come together for Preview's biggest Pride cover.
For Preview's biggest Pride cover to date, a total of 32 filmmakers, actors, singers, drag queens, TV personalities, and content creators have convened. Both in front and behind the camera, these individuals have constantly championed LGBTQIA+ narratives through their varied lines of work, proving that there is indeed strength in numbers. Meet each of them below.
The Preview Pride 2024 Cover Stars
Adrian Lindayag
As an actor, Adrian Lindayag knows the significance of telling queer stories from a queer perspective. Aside from titles such as Kadenang Ginto, An Inconvenient Love, and The Boy Foretold by the Stars, a highlight in his career has been reprising the role of Angel in Rent, not just once, but twice. The character resonates with Adrian as someone who has also been diagnosed with HIV. He hopes to inspire people in the same situation as him, saying: "The virus does not limit them as people. I hope they get reminded that there is a full life ahead of them and that they are capable of achieving their dreams."
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Borgy Angeles
ON ADRIAN: Mustard button down, ZARA, Zara Megamall
Agnes Reoma of Ben&Ben
When Ben&Ben bassist Agnes Reoma heard the song Maybe We'd Be Something by Rizza Cabrera, she felt a certain resonance that showed her how music can be one's safe space. "Music is like a backdoor to your heart," she says. "Pag may mga feelings ka na gusto mo sabihin, may music na pwedeng sumakto roon, at mage-gets [na sya ng ibang tao]."
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Borgy Angeles
ON AGNES: Plaid blazer, ZIV REI ALEXI. Ficklemind necklace, FICKLE FRIENDS STUDIOS. Paradise Scarf, PLAIN SIGHT x SOFIA COPE.
Alex Diaz
Alex Diaz has high hopes for the industry of queer storytelling. He's "excited to see stories that aren't just centered around sexuality or the trauma of [not conforming to] heteronormativity." Fresh from a musical adaptation of Bar Boys, as well as the premiere of Glitter and Doom, the actor is steadily building a portfolio of work that speaks to his truest self and people who can relate to him.
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Borgy Angeles
ON ALEX: Cropped short-sleeved coat; Wide-legged Trousers, RANDOLF CLOTHING.
Awra
Having come of age right before our very eyes, Awra has learned that the trick to a long-lasting career is authenticity. "I've always just been myself," the Gen Z actress muses, reflecting on the characters she's portrayed, and the stories she hopes to keep telling.
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Borgy Angeles
ON AWRA: The Bodi Top, P13,790, HOUSE OF LAUREL, The Rajo Store Shangri-La Plaza.
Denise Julia
"Art is limitless," Denise Julia says matter-of-factly. A proud pansexual lady, the R&B songstress makes it a point to highlight the real-life contexts her music comes from. "It's really important to tell my stories that way so listeners know that I'm coming from somewhere that's real," she states.
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Borgy Angeles
ON DENISE: The Nobya Dress, P2300, OUR PARAISO, our-paraiso.com. Pearl with a gilded heart body chain, SAINTE MARION. Earrings, ERICSON MANANSALA.
Dids Veneracion
Hailing from a family that's passionate about the music, her dad Ian Veneracion included, Dids Veneracion wears her heart on her sleeve when she creates her own art. The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde student is inclined to the idea of romance and courtship, finding inspiration from male balladeers and how they express love.
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Borgy Angeles
ON DIDS: Striped polo shirt, FREN SUPPLY. Yellow Vest, INIGO.
Easy Ferrer
Easy Ferrer grew up as a very happy gay person. This joy was something he wanted to instill into the stories he writes, ensuring that his characters display how LGBTQIA+ people can be victorious in their everyday life. "Hindi kailangan [ng mga queer people] makipagbugbigan in life para lang makuha ang gusto nila," direk expresses. "They're just people who have the same problems to solve and goals to achieve.
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Borgy Angeles
ON EASY: Sequined kaftan, archival, H&M STUDIOS. Red polka-dotted button down, GLORIOUS DIAS. Island girl necklace, KATARI.
EJ Jallorina
EJ Jallorina was a staple of every Filipino household's Sunday evenings as an original cast member of Goin' Bulilit. Now all grown-up and exposed to the realities of the world, the actress knows how important it is to see oneself on screen. In a world where transgender women such as herself are continually persecuted for their identities, this has become a matter of survival. She strongly states: "Trans people just want to exist."
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Borgy Angeles
ON EJ: Silk Satin Pink Top, P58,898, SIMONE ROCHA, Univers One Rockwell. White Bubble Skirt, P2395, ZARA, Zara Megamall.
Esnyr
Esnyr transports everyone back to their schoolyard days through his entertaining and relatable TikTok skits, all of which he produces himself. He's a living embodiment of the power social media holds in empowering queer creatives and providing a space for their stories. He says, "Social media gives the community a platform to be true to themselves, and we can utilize it to inspire other people to be true to themselves as well."
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Borgy Angeles
ON ESNYR: Sage green silk vest, Price available upon request, MONOHOMME STUDIOS. Pleasure Scarf, P6000, JER DEE, Guava Sketches. Jose Necklace; Trinity Pearl Necklace, KATARI.
Iyah Mina
After blazing a trail as the first transgender woman to win the Best Actress trophy at the CinemaOne Originals Film Festival, Iyah Mina continues to cultivate her own brand of trans excellence. "I may be bruised, but I am brave. This is who I am meant to be," she declares.
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Borgy Angeles
ON IYAH: Lavender Silk Blazer, DONA LIM STUDIO.
Jason Dhakal
"I'm always going to be here, I'm going to exist and you're just going to either get sick of me or accept that I'm here," singer-songwriter Jason Dhakal says with gusto. Having come home to the Philippines at 16 years old, Jason celebrates every facet of his identity through his craft, unbothered by any hate or prejudice.
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Borgy Angeles
ON JASON: The Meltch Top, Price unavailable, MARTIN UY.
John "Sweet" Lapus
An undeniable institution in LGBTQIA+ narratives and the showbiz industry as a whole, direk John "Sweet" Lapus has made it a mission to guide those who have come after him. Having transitioned his career from hosting talk shows to sitting in the director's chair, Sweet knows the responsibility on his shoulders as a pioneer in the scene. "Yung mga [nanonood sa’kin], dapat makakita sila ng matapang na bakla na ipinaglalaban [yung sarili niya.] Dapat hindi nila ikahiya na bakla [rin sila]. Dapat ma-inspire sila magtagumpay sa buhay," he states.
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Borgy Angeles
ON SWEET: Purple textured robe, JOB DACON. Mermaid Choker, KATARI. Earrings, ERICON MANANSALA.
KaladKaren
No glass ceilings are left unbroken for the "One Woman Wonder" that is KaladKaren. On top of being a historic Best Actress awardee at the Metro Manila Film Festival, she's also found success as the first transgender news anchor in the Philippines. The accolades and recognition will come and go, but what will remain is KaladKaren's dedication to taking up space as a proud member of her community.
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Borgy Angeles
ON KALADKAREN: The Sogno Bralette in Cornflower, P12,000, ROSANNA OCAMPO, Rosanna Ocampo Powerplant Mall, rosannacampo.com. Skirt, archival, H&M STUDIOS. Earrings, SPRINKLES PH.
Klea Pineda
Like many, Klea Pineda dreamed of seeing herself on billboards or appearing in star-studded teleseryes. These are aspirations she continually works toward, and a big part of the journey was recognizing who she really is. "Marami man magmahal sa’kin, or marami man mang-hate sa’kin, basta alam ko sa sarili ko, naging masaya ako," she says of her coming out experience last 2023. "Naging malaya ako."
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Borgy Angeles
ON KLEA: Yellow cardigan, P2995, ZARA, Zara Megamall. Top, archival, H&M STUDIOS. Luna earrings, KATARI.
Kren Yap
Kren Yap found his voice in filmmaking when he worked on Gaya Sa Pelikula, a boys' love series produced by Anima Studios. Now the production company's head of creative development, he has a firmer grasp of what stories need to be shared, but more importantly, how these stories should be told in order to reach a wider audience. People have to be granted the rights their deservingly entitled to before anything else. In his words, "Let the Filipino survive, but supplement the Filipino with education."
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Borgy Angeles
ON KREN: Oversized Suit Set in Sage, P10,995, BARO LABEL. Arellana Polo, P19,895, RAJO MAN, Rajo Shangri-La
Mimiyuuuh
Mimiyuuuh has been and always will be that girl. Anyone subscribed to her day-to-day antics would know that she's come a long, long way from her days as a viral sensation. Her secret? Being 110% herself at all times. "'Yung pagiging bading mo, gamitin mo sya as your strength and as your core. You can really inspire more people to be themselves, too," she says.
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Borgy Angeles
ON MIMIYUUUH: Brown Witchy Maxi Dress, $530 (approximately P31,009.77), AVAVAV, Akimbo BGC, clothbase.com
MJ Felipe
MJ Felipe initially studied physics in hopes of becoming an astronaut. But instead of being with the stars, he's now among them as a recognizable and respected showbiz reporter. Through his work, he makes it a point to give LGBTQIA+ people their rightful flowers. "It's my gift to my community to make sure that we are heard, represented, and celebrated because it goes a long way," he puts it. "You never know who's watching. It could be someone who's trying to figure out their own identity."
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Borgy Angeles
ON MJ: Button down, archival, H&M STUDIOS. Pleated Trousers, GREYHOUND.
NAIA
NAIA took flight as a drag artist fairly recently, but her work has already made quite an impact. Aside from being the inaugural winner of Prime Video competition series Drag Den, she's involved herself in campaigns and activism efforts that uplifted the community and demanded for its rights. NAIA is immensely grateful to the queens who have come before her, and she hopes to strut towards a future where all can thrive, irregardless of their SOGIE.
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Borgy Angeles
ON NAIA: The denim heart bralette; Red heart necklace bralette, GERVACIO. Bean stud earrings, RUSSET ACCESSORIES. Nude crystal-embellished dress, archival, H&M STUDIOS. Ficklemind necklace, FICKLE FRIENDS STUDIOS.
Paolo Ballesteros
The undisputed "Transformation Queen," Paolo Ballesteros is in a constant state of evolution. After finding ground as a noontime show host, he expanded his talents through 2016's Die Beautiful, a film that many LGBTQIA+ people hold near and dear to their hearts. Nowadays, he's known as Mawma Pao, the head judge and host of Drag Race Philippines. "We Filipinos are naturally fun, creative, and talented," he says, "and I am proud to be your 'Queen-Ang-Inang' host sitting front and center, presenting to the world our very best."
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Borgy Angeles
ON PAOLO: Floral coat, JOB DACON. Reyna Baroque Necklace; Shell Conch Earrings, KATARI. Coastal Cool - Lolana Necklace, HEYJOW.
Pat Lasaten of Ben&Ben
Pat Lasaten's heart warms up whenever she sees queer couples holding hands in public. For her, it's proof that, as challenging as things may be at times, LGBTQIA+ people have gained the bravery to be themselves in the world. She partly credits queer artists and musicians who have been candid about their experiences. She shares, "Malaking bagay 'pag out yung artist. When you know that, mas nakaka-connect ka kasi similar kayo ng pinagdaanan."
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Borgy Angeles
ON PAT: Denim Corset; Plaid shorts, ZIV REI ALEXI. Necktie, FICKLE FRIENDS STUDIOS.
Pat Tingjuy
There were many factors as to why Pat Tingjuy auditioned for the role of Ace in Rookie. Aside from their shared love for volleyball, Pat shared the same passion Ace had when it came to actualizing her goals and protecting those around her. Even with the waves of positive reception, she was still pleasantly taken aback when she won the Cinemalaya Best Actress award for her performance, a feat she doesn't take lightly.
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Borgy Angeles
ON PAT: Denim apron vest, Price unavailable, MARTIN UY. Sequined pants, archival, H&M STUDIOS.
Pepe Diokno
It took some time for Pepe Diokno to shake off the shame he felt from being gay, a process he knows is not easy for many LGBTQIA+ people. The critically acclaimed GomBurZa director inched towards self-acceptance when he realized that his sexuality had nothing to do with his craft. This frame of thought is something he hopes the film industry would discern as well. He articulates his point, saying, "It would be nice to reach a point where a story is just a story. No matter if it's gay, no matter if it's straight."
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Borgy Angeles
ON PEPE: Blackboard Buttondown Shirt, HA.MU.
Petersen Vargas
Petersen Vargas made his directorial debut with 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten, a coming-of-age film that solidified his style and ethos as a storyteller. In recent history, he's been at the helm of Star Cinema titles starring some of showbiz's biggest names. As a filmmaker, he makes certain that there are spaces made for LGBTQIA+ characters one way or another. "If we can just highlight those lived experiences, we can at least keep sharing the different colors of the queer community," he states.
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Borgy Angeles
ON PETERSEN: Oversized Pinstripe Suit, P10,775, BARO LABEL. Thread craft polo, Price unavailable. MARTIN UY. Grey trousers, GREYHOUND.
Precious Paula Nicole
Precious Paula Nicole almost didn't join the first season of Drag Race Philippines. The Bicol native was initially very hesitant to sign up, but the stars just seemed to align in her favor, which ultimately led her to winning the coveted crown and title. With these attached to her name, Precious acknowledges the responsibility she has to represent not just her style of drag, but the entire Filipino community who's rooting for her.
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Borgy Angeles
ON PRECIOUS: Zula Cover-Up, P12,295, HOUSE OF LAUREL, The Rajo Store Shangri-La Plaza.The Shell Panty (worn as necklace), SAINT MARIONNE.
Rod Singh
A dreamer through and through, Rod Singh yearns for a day when LGBTQIA+ people have unquestionably been cemented into Filipino storytelling. Her work with Mamu; and a Mother Too and Drag Den are only the beginning stages. Direk firmly believes that what we see on screen has a huge impact on how we tackle the world around us. "Hindi pa nari-realize ng mga bakla ang kapangyarihan natin na baguhin yung mga nararanasan natin," she says. "Naniniwala ako na mas malakas pag sama-sama. Ang dami natin."
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Borgy Angeles
ON ROD: Plaid Corset and Trousers, STRONG VILLAGE. Charm Necklace, RUSSET ACCESSORIES.
Samantha Lee
A lot of things made it hard for Samantha Lee to come out, and part of it was seeing how unfairly the "tomboy" was portrayed on-screen. Her work is strongly tied to her yearning to make it easier for queer individuals to actualize and own their identities. She says that this is only the first step in actually enacting change. "Homophobia and bias are so deeply ingrained in our culture. There are so many things that we have to unlearn," Sam states. "The change that we want can’t happen unless we act on it as a collective.”
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Borgy Angeles
ON SAMANTHA: The Leather Moto Jacket; Jumbo Wash Denim Jeans, VIKTOR MANILA. Jacquard Vest, INIGO. Luna necklace, KATARI.
Sassa Gurl
Back-to-back-to-back Preview Pride cover star Sassa Gurl has recently extended her talents to acting. Equipped with a strong sense of self, she believes that LGBTQIA+ creatives in the entertainment scene have a duty to empower the community through their work, which entails dismantling oppressive stereotypes. She states: "'Pag bakla ka, ibig sabihin, politikal ang buhay mo. Kailangan may ipaglaban ka."
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Borgy Angeles
ON SASSA: The Shell Top, EUSTANCIA RODRIGUEZ. Skirt, BERSHKA.
Sheryn Regis
Relatable, real, and raw, Sheryn Regis' discography is rife with melodies that speak to the Pinoy's most authentic emotions. After years of chaining herself to people's expectations, the singer has decided to take full control of her life, having come out as as lesbian last 2021. She makes certain that this changes nothing about her craft, which has always been rooted in love.
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Borgy Angeles
ON SHERYN: The Voya Top, P6500, RAJO LAUREL, rajolaurel,com. Mini disc choker and Serilda Necklace, HEYJOW.
Taylor Sheesh
Drag is Taylor Sheesh's escape from reality. Serving as her family's breadwinner, the worldwide sensation has utilized the art of impersonation as a means to liberate herself from the daily hardships. The way she's gotten packed arenas of fellow Swifties singing along is only a bonus in her book.
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Borgy Angeles
Wenn Deramas (†)
During his time, the late Wenn Deramas shifted the landscape of Filipino comedy and storytelling. Without him, audiences would not have had iconic LGBTQIA+ oriented movies such as Apat Dapat Dapat Apat, Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo, Praybeyt Benjamin, Sisterakas, and many, many more. It was evident that direk had a genuine intention to champion the bakla, and to prove that they, too, could be the star of their own show. With every chuckle and with every tear, his legacy lives on.
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Borgy Angeles
Yani
Yani (known by many as her username yanihatesu) came to terms with her bisexuality thanks to the increased representation queer people have had in recent years. She cites the Big Bang of boys' and girls' love series during the COVID-19 lockdowns as instrumental in informing people of different forms of identity and expression. Though, she's wary not to be complacent, firmly stating that there is still work to be done in terms of authentically representing the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
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Borgy Angeles
ON YANI: Jacket, SAMANTHA RICHELLE. Palma earrings, HEYJOW.
Zar Donato
You might know Zar Donato as one of the leads in the sapphic romance flick Billie and Emma. After shaking off the notion that her sexuality limits her, she recognizes that the industry's perception of queerness still needs to change. "There have been strides in the right direction but I don’t think that it’s quite there yet," she ponders. "We need to reach a point where lesbianism is portrayed as another facet of our lives instead of having characters fit within stereotypes."
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Borgy Angeles
ON ZAR: White shirt, P31,298, HELMUT LANG, Univers One Rockwell. Deultum Trouser, P65,798, KIKO KOSTADINOV, Univers One Rockwell.
Read the Preview Pride June 2024 cover story here.
Produced by The Preview Team
Portraits Photographed by Borgy Angeles, assisted by Pao Mendoza
Creative Direction: Bacs Arcebal
Editor-in-Chief: Marj Ramos-Clemente
Production: Reg Rodriguez and Em Enriquez
Fashion: Pau Singh, Reg Rodriguez, in collaboration with Gee Jocson, Angelo Vasallo, Jason Mago, assisted by John Rubio
Beauty Direction: Isha Fojas
Makeup: Team Muriel Vega Perez, Jason Delos Reyes for Klea Pineda, Thazzia Falek for Mimiyuuuh, Ghulli Ghush for Taylor Sheesh
Hair: Team Muriel Vega Perez, Darwin Siñel for KaladKaren, Gelo Cibrian for Klea Pineda, Dale Mallari for Mimiyuuuh, Wigs by Scarlette for NAIA, Wigs by Margaux for Precious Paula Nicole, J Quinn for Taylor Sheesh
Set and Production Design: Rocketsets
Art and Video Direction: Jana Jodloman
Videographers: Jino Del Mundo, Richford Unciano, Micah Moleno
BTS Photographer: Cha Remigio
Social Media: Jamie Lou Briones
Story: Em Enriquez
Shot at Backyard Warehouse Studio
Special Thanks to McDonald's, Shake Shack, and Heybo Philippines
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