Looking back at how Bela Padilla came to be our November 2018 #CalyxtaGirl, I remember just following her on Instagram one day after seeing how artistic her feed looked. She had a kind of beauty that manifested even more as you stared at her features—and I think it was her sharp and expressive-looking eyes that drew me right in. There was something about this girl that made her so different from all the others, and I think what made Calyxta instantly want her to become our cover girl to represent our Art Issue was because, more than the diversity of characters she’s played on-screen, is an impressive roster of successful films she’s written—including Camp Sawi and Meet Me in St. Gallen.
Taking a chance and banking on just sending her a direct message on Instagram, I was surprised that she had accepted my request and responded back the same day. And so began a fun and creative process of conceptualizing a shoot that could capture Bela and her many layers, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
In this first cover video, get to know the first layer of our All-Around Artist as an actress who has worked with some of the best in the industry:
Cover Story: Gretchen Gatan
Editorial Assistant: Maan Fernandez
Art Direction: Margaux Cortez
Video: Richard Webb
Photo: Kitkat Pajaro
Makeup: Denise Ochoa
Hair: Kiel Otilla
Styling: Jan Aranilla
Special Thanks to: The Belle & Dragon and Mandalay
