This might be the year the Philippines enters its soft power era, which is a country’s influence shared through culture and entertainment rather than force or power. From BINI, SB19, Olivia Rodrigo, KATSEYE’s Sophia Laforteza, DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, and more, Filipino culture has been making its mark on the global stage lately. While we don’t need international validation to realize our talent and potential, there’s no denying that a growing generation of Filipinos has been meeting the moment, and two Filipinas were recognized for doing just that as part of TIME100 Next 2026.
Since 2019, the magazine has used the list to acknowledge and highlight the 100 most influential rising stars shaping the cultural conversation. For the 2026 edition, two Filipinas, from vastly different fields, made the list in recognition of their status as rising stars and their growing impact in their respective industries.
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Alex Eala – The Filipina Changing the Face of Tennis
Alex Eala needs no introduction. Anyone who has even remotely followed tennis knows that the Gen Z athlete is one of the sport’s rising stars. This year alone, she won her first WTA 500WTA 500is a category of professional women's tennis tournaments on the WTA Tour, offering 500 ranking points to the singles champion.Go to WTA 500 Glossary title, becoming the first Filipino in history to do so, as well as becoming the highest-ranked Filipina and Southeast Asian on the WTA, where she currently stands at World No. 18. Along the way, she brought a new generation of Filipino fans to the sport. It’s all these achievements and more that Time recognized by including her in the Innovators category.
Accompanying her placement was a write-up by her mentor and tennis idol Rafael Nadal, whom Eala trained at his academy in Spain for years and graduated from in 2023. “I’ve been lucky enough to know Alex since she began her journey at Rafa Nadal Academy, and have closely followed her tremendous career,” the Spanish tennis superstar wrote, adding that Eala was the first player he shared a tennis court with after his retirement.
Aside from enumerating her achievements, Nadal heaped praise on Eala for who she is off the court. “Alex remains a wonderful person—warm, approachable, and humble. It isn’t easy to handle becoming a true phenomenon at such a young age, and she deserves a lot of credit for keeping her feet on the ground.”
Isa Briones – The Fil-Am Actress Making Waves From Broadway to Hollywood
Among the growing list of Filipino-American artists in Hollywood, Isa Briones is one to watch. The daughter of JonJon Briones, she is already a familiar face to musical theater fans thanks to her experience in Broadway and beyond. It’s a resume that includes Hamilton and Hadestown, the latter of which served as her Broadway debut playing Eurydice. Her work as an actress, though, has been one of her most exciting endeavors.
After roles in Star Trek: Picard and Goosebumps, Briones booked the biggest role of her career to date as Dr. Trinity Santos in the hit medical drama series The Pitt. As Dr. Santos, Briones admittedly plays one of the more divisive characters on the show, but there’s no denying she can get viewers talking, such as when a scene involving Dr. Santos singing a Hiligaynon lullaby to a baby during the show’s second season went viral on social media.
The Actor Award-winning actress and singer was included in the Artists category, where her write-up was penned by her The Pitt co-star Katherine LaNasa. “Isa Briones is the coolest kid I know,” the Emmy-winning actress begins. “The literal funny bone of The Pitt (sorry, pun intended), she moves between vulnerability, deadpan comedy, and gritty “don’t even think about messing with me” moments with the ease of an actor far beyond her years. And she can sing like nobody’s business.”
She went on to laud Briones for her dedication to accurately portraying Filipino women on screen and her confidence in being herself despite the pressures of a Hollywood spotlight. “She dresses in her own unique style, speaks truth to power, and she is kind. She shows us all that you don’t have to shape-shift to win.”
Featured Image: ALEX EALA (via Instagram)
Photos: ALEX EALA (via Instagram), Photo by WTA/Ashok Kumar, ISA BRIONES (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Tennis player Alex Eala and actress Isa Briones are the two Filipinas named to TIME100 Next 2026, TIME’s annual list recognizing 100 rising stars shaping the global cultural conversation since 2019.
According to the article, Alex Eala won her first WTA 500 title, becoming the first Filipino to do so, and became the highest-ranked Filipina and Southeast Asian on the WTA at World No. 18.
Rafael Nadal, Eala’s mentor at his tennis academy in Spain, wrote her TIME100 Next write-up, praising both her career achievements and her humility off the court.
Isa Briones is known for roles in Hadestown and Hamilton, and for playing Dr. Trinity Santos in the medical drama The Pitt, a role that included a viral scene of her singing a Hiligaynon lullaby.
Katherine LaNasa, Briones’s The Pitt co-star, wrote her TIME100 Next write-up, praising her range as a performer and her commitment to authentically portraying Filipino women on screen.
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