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This is an excerpt from June 2025 Main Beauty
As the sky deepens into night and the last hues of blue dissolve, stars awaken, shining not just above, but within the heart of queer spaces. Here, pride radiates with joy, glamour moves with grace, and beauty speaks with power — It doesn’t just adorn, it declares: a testament to self-love, a celebration of truth, and a luminous thread that weaves each soul into the fabric of their chosen home.
EYE AM WHAT I AM
Few things in beauty make a statement quite like glitter. But, beyond its sparkling, shimmering, gleaming glory, it holds deep meaning in queer expression. It is a language of pride, a soft weapon of defiance, and a quiet celebration of the self. Worn loud or worn tenderly, it makes a statement: bold, radiant, and unshaken: I am what I am.
CROWNING GLORY
“Big, bold, volumized hair isn’t just a look, it’s power, presence, and status — the kind that announces: I have arrived.” says hairstylist Lourd Ramos. That spirit lives on in styles like snake curls, an homage to the glam of the series, Pose. “We reimagined the classic French twist with tighter curls, extra height, and lived-in texture. A strong- hold hairspray is key.”
DANCING QUEEN
When asked about her best-kept beauty secret, lola Divina Amparo smiles and answers “Ang beauty secret ko is to live a happy life and to stay kind. Masasabi ko na na-achieve ko yan dahil nakakapag-perform pa rin kami. Passion na talaga namin yan [I can say that I have achieved that because we can still perform. This is really our passion]. It’s what makes us young!”
Pro Tip: “The key to a flawless base on mature skin begins with skincare,” says Gery. “I take time to really massage the products in. This allows the products to sink into fine lines and ensure skin is properly prepped. The goal is for the base to fuse WITH THE SKIN, NOT SIT ON TOP OF IT
Lola Amparo continues, “Ito rin ang maipapayo ko sa mga kabataan: ipagpatuloy nila ang pag-aaral at ang goal nila sa buhay. Alagaan ang mga sarili. At higit sa lahat, huwag kakalimutan ang salitang respeto—respeto sa sarili, respeto sa pamilya, respeto sa kaibigan, at respeto sa kapwa tao. [This is the advice I give the youth, to finish their studies and go after their goals in life. Take care of themselves. Above all, to respect themselves, their family, friends, and fellow human beings.]”
EXPRESS YOURSELF
“Performing, for me, is a colorful work of art. It’s like a rainbow.” says lola Elizabeth Medes. “It brings me a feeling contentment, of course. Lahat ng pagmamahal and passion namin na-poportray namin sa pag-impersonate, pagkanta, at pagsayaw. Dito ko rin naramramdaman na magandang-maganda ako, doing what I love. [All the love and passion that we have are poured into our impersonations, singing, and dancing. This is when I feel the most beautiful, doing what I love.]”
“Eyeshadow can sometimes feel intimidating, so start small — even a colored eyeliner can be a fun entry point. I really encourage everyone to play with color at some point,” Gery shares. “It’s not just about how it looks; there’s something freeing about it. It gives you that youthful, carefree, I-don’t-give-a- f *ck attitude — and honestly, on some days, that’s exactly what you need.”
Looking back at her well- lived life, lola Elizabeth says, “Kapag dumating na ang oras ako [When my time comes], I can rest easy and happy dahil kahit late bloomer ako, kahit twenty-eight years old na akong nag out, nagawa ko pa rin ang mga bagay na nakakapagpasaya sa akin.” [even if I had come out at 28 years old already, I still got to do what makes me happy.]
LOVE IS A HOUSE
“Punong-puno ng pagmamahal at pagkakalinga [Filled with love and compassion],” says lola Divina Amparo when asked to describe the legacy of the Golden Gays. “At sana gawin itong inspirasyon ng mga mas nakakabata kung paano natin alagaan ang isa’t-isa bilang isang komunidad. [May this inspire younger people on how we take care of each other in the community.]”
Through these stories, we learn that family isn’t always something we’re born into, sometimes, it’s the community we choose
Discover how beauty comes to life through pride in MEGA’s June 2025 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photographed By: DOOKIE DUCAY. Creative Direction and Written By: MARA GO. Art Direction JONES PALTENG. Sittings Editor AGOO AZCUNA-BENGZON. Producer THESSMAR LECTURA. Makeup GERY PENASO for the Golden Gays, Neal Allen for EJ NACION, and Jufel Gomez for TAKI AND LAURA JHANE, all using MAC COSMETICS. Hair LOURD RAMOS. Nails TRIPLE LUCK BROW & NAIL SALON. Styling GENO ESPIDOL of QURATOR STUDIO. Photography Assistant BYRON DE GUZMAN and LOU FAJARDO. Styling Assistant CHARLOTTE SOMBILLO. Models EJ NANCION, TAKI SHIMADA of ELITE MODEL MANAGEMENT MANILA, LAURA JHANE OJIMBA of LUMINARY MANILA, ELIZABETH MEDES and DIVINA AMPARO of GOLDEN GAYS. Shot on Location at SALON DE NING. Special thanks to RAMON BUSA of GOLDEN GAYS, MARIANO GARCHITORENA and GRACE LIM of THE PENINSULA MANILA.
