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Tweetie De Leon-Gonzalez Is Back as Preview's 2024 Style Icon
Nearly three decades since she fronted Preview's maiden issue in 1995, our first-ever cover girl is iconic in every sense of the word.
by Isha Fojas
Published Sep 6, 2024
Nearly three decades since Preview’s maiden issue in 1995, Tweetie is back as our 2024 Style Icon.
Preview magazine made its debut on the newsstands in June 1995, featuring model Tweetie de Leon in Armani.
“The shoot for the first cover of Preview magazine, I can remember it very clearly. There were just five of us in the shoot—Raymond Lontok, the photographer, Leah Puyat, who was the EIC then, Myrza Sison, who was the fashion editor, Jing Monis for hair and makeup, and myself,” recalls our first-ever cover girl. “[It was] around two in the afternoon with the sun very high. But back in the day, we just had to make do with what we had. We just had to make it work. And work it did.”
Tweetie, one of the top models and OG "it girls" in the Philippines during her heyday, was a constant presence in magazine pages, commercials, and on our TV screens. This year, nearly three decades since she appeared on the cover of Preview's maiden issue in 1995, Tweetie is being celebrated as 2024's Style Icon, an annual award presented at the Preview Ball, on September 6, 2024, in Marriott Grand Ballroom at Newport World Resorts.
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JOSH TOLENTINO
Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez is Preview's Style Icon 2024
Tweetie Is Back!
We couldn’t help but be in awe when Tweetie first walked into the studio for her Style Icon shoot. It was impossible not to be captivated by her presence.
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In her younger years, Tweetie’s signature style had a rugged, boyish charm—denim shorts, white Hanes T-shirts, leather bracelets, and Doc Martens were her go-to uniform. Reflecting on her style evolution, Tweetie shares, "I don't think much has changed. I've always adhered to a very uncomplicated fashion. My priority really is to put on something that is comfortable for me, something that will express my current state of mind. It's like my statement of how I am today."
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ON TWEETIE: Taffeta Long Dress White/Black Dress, CAROLINA HERRERA
While she claims that not much has changed, there’s an undeniable difference in how Tweetie presents herself today. Her youthful, girly charm has given way to a confident, powerful presence that commands respect. Her calm, confident demeanor speaks of a woman who knows who she is and embraces it fully.
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ON TWEETIE: Dark purple wool dress, € 1,600 (approximately P99,534.40), FENDI, fendi.com
"Many of the things that are in my closet are still part of my wardrobe from many, many years ago," she mentions with a smile, talking about how her style has evolved through the years. Tweetie is a forward-thinking mom, too—pieces from her own collection have found new life in the wardrobe of her daughter, Sabina, with whom she often shares her clothes.
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Her approach to fashion has always been about comfort and practicality, a philosophy that has served her well throughout the years. "I just want to look polished. Uncomplicated. And I've stuck to this for many years—decades even, because it's something that works well for me," she says.
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Tweetie’s wardrobe essentials highlight her commitment to classic, functional fashion. “Everyone needs to have a well-fitted jacket,” she advises, noting that she often turns to the men’s section because of how they’re tailored. She also emphasizes the importance of well-fitted black trousers and versatile camisoles, which she uses for layering or wearing alone. “It just gives a feminine touch to my total look. I can wear it all year round during the summer or even in the cooler months,” she explains.
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Defining an Icon
We asked Tweetie what she thought when our Editor-in-Chief, Marj Ramos-Clemente, first reached out to her about the award. "It's not something that I expected, so I was pretty surprised. I was shocked… I didn't think I would still be part of the awareness of the current crop of editors," she explains with an air of humility. "I'm very grateful, of course. Very grateful to be recognized in a certain way, and held to a certain regard.”
Tweetie being named Preview's Style Icon isn’t simply a nod to the model's past achievements, but a reminder that true style is not merely about following trends but getting to know oneself, fully embracing that authenticity, and telling one's unique story through fashion.
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Defining what an "icon" means to her, Tweetie had the best answer: "Each one has his or her own idea of what's ideal, and their set of standards. So, it's something very personal," she concludes. "You take to someone because of their set of values, because of their character, or maybe because of their life choices."
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Produced and Styled by the Preview Team
Photographer: Josh Tolentino
Creative Director: Bacs Arcebal
Editor-in-Chief: Marj Ramos-Clemente
Production: Isha Fojas
Fashion: Reg Rodriguez and Paulina Singh
Hair and Makeup: Team Muriel Vega Perez
Story: Isha Fojas
Videos: Jana Jodloman, Jino Del Mundo, and Greeko Junio
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