Photography JOHANN BONA
Make Up JIGS MAYUGA
Hair JUSTINE NAVATO
Videography SHEM HAMPAC
Special thanks to Sofitel Manila, Tokyo Posh
and www.theluxeresort.com
By Wanggo Gallaga
“I have always been comfortable in my own skin,” explains the 27-year old striking beauty that is fashion designer and stylist Samantha Richelle.
She has appeared in the pages of magazines and websites featuring her edgy, confident sense of style, her gorgeous features, her tattoos and her engagement with Azkals star football player Anton del Rosario. I ask her point blank if she knew she was beautiful.
“Honestly, growing up I have never taken myself too seriously either so I think when people do tell me I’m beautiful, I tend to make an awkward face,” she says. “I don’t remember finding out, but I really felt I had come into my own when I left home and began life! That’s when I became more mature and at ease with myself and really came to see the beauty in everyone and how everybody is diverse.”
Before she got into fashion, Samantha Richelle originally started off as a Fine Arts major. But, after a few stints in fashion styling, she now finds herself in Manila designing ready-to-wear clothes for her start-up, self-named brand. “I am an artist but I am a fashion designer above other things,” she says.
When asked what she finds unique in her own beauty, she confesses a difficulty in answering that question. So instead, I direct the questions to her tattoos.
She has nine in total and she narrates that she got her first tattoo when she moved out of home and flew to New York for design school. “I got my first three in the span of two weeks,” she shares. “It became a little addiction but I never regretted it.” She loves the “art of it” and she explains that it has become a big part of who she is.
All of the tattoos each have a meaning. They always represent an important experience in my life.
It’s hard to imagine that someone like Samantha Richelle would ever have days when she just doesn’t feel beautiful. But she quickly admits, “Yes, I definitely do!”
“They definitely have to do with skin breakouts,” she explains. “When I don’t feel confident without makeup because of zits or skin discoloration, that’s when I definitely have my down days. I tackle that with a hat or I just pretend like I don’t care about it. It gets me through those days.”
At 27, she’s already making waves and people have taken notice. Samantha Richelle is making her mark and even if she cannot answer what is unique to her own beauty, she seems to know what every person should do to project the inner beauty within. She simply says…
People should embrace what makes them stand out and love being different.
What is your daily make up routine?
My daily make up routine is a good light foundation to cover just the t-zone and a little under the eyes if needed, and, I just put in fake but very natural lashes for a nice boost. I just brush on eyebrow gel onto my eyebrows and then a peach lippie onto my lips and a little blush.
Is it different if you are going out to a party or an event?
When I go out for a party or an event it isn’t that much different, I still like to keep the foundation light and I don’t put it all over the face (I only like to put where I think I need it to even out the color), but I do rather like to add on a deep black eyeliner and add a little eye shadow or a more striking lip color to add more pop.
When asked why so many, she responds that a lot of things have happened to her that she’s proud of and the tattoos remind her of these events and achievements.“It’s like a security blanket in a sense,” she adds. “I honestly do not ever get a tattoo on impulse. With the exception of the first three, which I had done when I was 17, I’d like to give at least three months to think it over. It’s a big decision in my life.”
But the tattoos are just a fraction of what makes Samantha such a striking beauty. Much has to be said about her killer sense of style. She has mentioned before that her sense of style is constantly changing and evolving. Is there anything that remains constant in her fashion aesthetics?
I don’t always believe in following trends.
She continues “I prefer the more classic, timeless silhouettes. I’ll try trends that are out of the ordinary and a little out there but I always tone it down to keep true to my sense of style and my comfort. I am very inspired by the 40’s and 50’s era as I grew up watching old classic films and I’ve always been influenced by that sense of simplicity and tailoring from that era. This has always been constant in my style evolutions.”
“I dress to my comfort,” she continues, “to what I enjoy and think is “fashionable,” but I do like for people to be inspired by my style and what I wear because as a designer, it is important to me. I understand that I can’t please everybody since people have a different take on style and fashion. But my job is to hope to influence people and for them to enjoy fashion. I believe that people should be comfortable in what they wear and understand their bodies and what works for them.”
What are your favourite make up tools?
I have a very worrying lipstick collection. I love lipsticks! The days where I have a “make up free day”, I only ever apply lipstick. J I love the way a lipstick color can just do up any look. I choose a color depending on what I’m wearing or my mood that particular day. I also love the perfect eyebrow mascara. People close to me know that I am a little obsessive over the perfect brow. It’s like grooming my eyebrows with the mascara keeping them in place.
Any beauty tips and tricks that you could share with Calyxta readers?
As needing to understand your body when it comes to dressing up, it’s the same as when you are applying makeup. You need to understand your face shape, what colors flatter your skin tone and how much you need to apply. People make the mistake on putting too much make up. I believe when putting on “your face” you want to still look natural. Make up is only there to improve flaws and enhance your skin.
When do you feel most beautiful?
I feel the most beautiful when my skin is at its best. It has nothing to do with covering my face with make up; it’s when my skin is looking flawless. I believe very much in taking care and investing in your skin with the products you use and the way you clean and apply your make up.
