There was no question about Carlos Yulo fronting Preview's December 2024 cover. “As a publication, the goal is to, of course, always capture the zeitgeist of a generation,” Editor-in-Chief Marj Ramos-Clemente shares, and this sentiment held even more weight in wrapping up the previous year. “He'll forever be part of Filipino history books, and we're honored that he got to share this monumental moment of his life with Preview,” she says of the gymnast’s incredible double-gold feat at the recent Paris Olympics.
The Making Of Carlos Yulo's December 2024 Preview Cover
"Each layout features Carlos performing different men's gymnastics exercises set in familiar everyday settings," Creative Director Bacs Arcebal explains about the concept behind the cover. "It's about how an athlete's commitment extends beyond the competition floor. It's a part of their daily life and essence."
Witty and playful, the cover spread—shot by Renzo Navarro—imagines life after the games for the Olympian. "Parang he doesn't have a care in the world, and then he's just performing on his own," Bacs says, sharing the posing instructions for Caloy.
Rocket Sets fabricated everyday scenarios typical to Filipinos: a living room, a grocery store, an MRT carriage, and an office. The athlete spins fantasy in the mundane by nonchalantly doing gymnastic poses, as if these were the most normal thing in the world. "He's so easy to work with, and he was really game to do different poses, different stunts just to get the perfect image," Bacs recounts, revealing that Caloy actually ended up doing multiple backflips on set when he was asked to "pretend" to do the poses.
Movement was a big consideration in styling. "We wanted looks that would perfectly match the vibe of those layouts, but also, we really wanted something that he could move in," Paulina Singh, Preview's Editorial Assistant for Fashion, points out.
For the Olympian's wardrobe, pieces from Fendi, Max Mara, Maison Kitsune, Neighborhood, and Adidas fit the bill for both practicality and aesthetic sensibilities. Hairstylist Ryan Ko also made sure that Caloy looked fresh throughout the bustle of the shoot.
"Everybody knows the story of Caloy winning two historical golds for his country in Paris," Preview's Lifestyle Editor and cover story writer Kat Cabral muses. "But rarely do you see the struggle that athletes like him face every day because we often only see the results." The cover shoot not only shone the much-deserved spotlight on Carlos' historic win but also lauded the everyday efforts that led to his triumph.
Produced and Styled by the Preview Team
Photographer: Renzo Navarro, assisted by Dom Pamatmat
Creative Director: Bacs Arcebal
Editor-in-Chief: Marj Ramos-Clemente
Production: Katrina Maisie Cabral and Reg Rodriguez
Fashion: Paulina Singh
Beauty Direction: Isha Fojas
Grooming: Ryan Ko
Set and Production Design: Rocketsets
Story: Katrina Maisie Cabral
Video Direction: Jana Jodloman
Videographers: Gelo Aldana, assisted by Miggy Dimaiwat
BTS Photographers: James Jarin and Shermae Gaupo of Studio Torio
Special thanks to Khai Liclican and Team
Check out the December 2024 cover story here.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
