In a generation that has no patience for façades, Kai’s calling card is sincerity. “I see vulnerability as a strength in this industry,” she says. “You notice in other artistas… they have this certain formula of how they are as a person. At first, I thought I needed to act a certain way to be liked by other people. But then I realized it’s my charm to be different.”
That difference is what makes people connect with her. “People say, ‘Nakikita ko sarili ko kay [I see myself in] Kai,’ and at first, I didn’t like that. But now I em- brace it—what makes people unique is what they have within themselves that sets them apart from others. So I don’t mind showing my vulnerability in front of the camera or without the camera, as long as I feel myself.”
Before Pinoy Big Brother (PBB), Kai admits she had her own assumptions about the industry. “A year ago, I was 17, hindi pa ako artista noon [I wasn’t an actress then]. Ang dami kong [I had a lot of] assumptions towards celebrities, towards how this industry works. But now, I realized artists are just people. And as one myself now, I respect artists more… kasi ang hirap talagang maging [it’s really difficult to be] happy when you’re not, ang hirap maging [It’s hard to be] sad when you’re not.
Her passion, she says, is something she actively nurtures. “It’s a matter of knowing that you’re good at something. Once you start to realize that—‘wait lang, parang I’m good at doing this’—you want to keep excelling. You hone your craft. Once you start getting better, you keep doing it more, and then you like your- self for doing it. And it’s a cycle. Merong times na sobrang pagod [There are times when I’m exhausted]… but I’ve been there. It’s just a pagod [tired] phase. You go back to honing your craft, you’re gonna like it again.”
In a culture that often packages young women into ready-made narratives, Kai is determined to chart her own path. “I’ve always been an advocate for independence. However, independence doesn’t mean loneliness or setting yourself apart from other people. I’m very open to collaborations, love teams, partnerships—basta I know and will practice standing on my own, whether that person is with me or not.”
She’s not rushing her climb, either. “I don’t want to be thrown into something I’m not ready for. More workshops, more improvement. Ayoko kasing isalang na hindi pa ready [I don’t want to start if I’m not ready] kasi sa akin din magba-backfire kung bad ‘yung output [because it’ll backfire on me if the output is bad].”
Kai carries both the hunger of a newcomer and the wisdom of someone who understands the weight of the stage she’s on. One year in, she’s no longer just the girl from the big yellow house, she’s the woman who’s claiming her place in the industry and she’s doing it while being herself.
Photographed by CENON AT MAV, Creative Direction by PATRICK TY, Art Direction by CLARE MAGNO, assisted by TROY NONATO, Fashion Direction and Styling by ROKO ARCEO, Beauty Direction by AGOO AZCUNA-BENGZON and MARA GO, Produced by THESSMAR LECTURA, Sittings Editor PEEWEE REYES-ISIDRO, Makeup by MICKEY SEE, Hair by BRENT SALES. Nails by CATHERINE BALINGASA, GENEVIEV PIOQUINTO, JENNIFER PASCUAL, and OGIE RODRIGUEZ of TRIPLE LUCK NAIL SALON, Production Design TIPPING POINT, Fashion Assistant KRISSIE TERUEL, Producer for CaM LOUGIE DELA CRUZ, Lighting Assistants MIGHT MERCADO, RUEL CONSTANTINO, GABRIEL JEFFERSON OLMILLO, SAMUEL PILLON, and ANTONIO BAYLON, Written by LAURD SALEN.
Shot on location at RED APPLE STUDIO
Special Thanks to MIGUEL LAURETA, ELLA TAGACA, ANA YLALIM, and KEN OPIÑA of VIVA ARTISTS AGENCY, THESS GUBI, LAUREN DYOGI, ERIK MIRAS, JEFF RODRIGUEZ, PATRICIA RIGODON, and FRANCES JOSON of STAR MAGIC, CHESTER SINGIAN, JASHLEY CRUZ, and ROCHELLE TUAZON-CHAVEZ of SPARKLE PR TEAM and SPARKLE GMA ARTIST CENTER
