Love is a woman’s whole existence. In celebration of womanhood, our Calyxta girls share the love. Love for beauty. Love for their craft. Love for their passion. Love for family and friends. Love for life. While centered on love, their life stories are anchored on struggle and how they have overcome. These are the women we love.
Karen Davila continues to inspire. Despite a legacy firmly built on a highly impactful journalism career, on a loving family that she has nurtured as a wife and mother, and on advocacies she has altruistically cared for, she is focused toward her second act. Happiness is her ultimate end-goal and entrepreneurship will be her core currency toward this end. Because for Karen, “the only barrier to success is you.”
Sarah Meier is your unfiltered influencer. She turned heads as a former MTV VJ, model and host. Somehow, this was not enough for her. Now, sitting behind the lens in her role as Metro magazine’s editor-in-chief, she feels better empowered in influencing the right way – with unfiltered, unapologetic relevance.
Stephanie Kienle draws inspiration and strength from family ties in masterfully balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. Heading design for Philux, a company her father started in 1980, and working closely with her sister Jessica, she has evolved the brand into a more modern and innovative furniture-maker. As she creates the unexpected – like collaborating with Manila’s influencers to design customized, high-quality furtniture pieces for the Philux Fix line – there is an over-abundance of love in raising her daughter.
Jess Connelly loves to sing so much that she does not want people to hear her. Her allure comes from her underground music that emanates from something deeper – – her disdain for the effete popularity that fame brings. Jess’ music resonates because it is genuine and unapologetic. Her low-key, EDMish soul music is meant to leave the listener wanting for more but not too much.
“Reluctant singer” Kiana Valenciano is undoubtedly proud of being the daughter of Gary Valenciano but she has grown to love being a solo artist who will one day step out of the shadows of her famous father. Kiana has an insatiable wanderlust, which enables her to imbibe new cultures, meet people and explore her limitless potential. Music is in Kiana’s heart and we will all soon get to love her more.
Aryanna Epperson is the consummate digital age multi-hyphenate. Her ubiquitous presence in social media and digital platforms has made her a role model and a de facto spokesperson of sorts for today’s millennials.
Everything’s coming up roses for model, TV host and food blogger Mari Jasmine. This fresh-faced beauty is turning a lot of heads and gaining more popularity due mainly to her enthralling personality and captivating looks. She is now happily involved with Sam Milby, further endearing herself to her many followers.
Catriona Gray is on a mission to bring only good things in life to all of us. Her love for travel, singing, lifestyle, fashion and beauty inspire us all to aspire for this good life. Her winning Miss World Philippines 2016 is both her reward and instrument in spreading the good that life wants us to experience.
Bianca Moran takes her lifestyle and causes seriously. As a full-on vegan (since she was 14 years old), she is now dismantling norms by creating Susi Studio, a vegan footwear brand based in Los Angeles. Coming up with the idea of vegan shoes that the likes of Emma Watson and Miley Cyrus would wear on red carpet events takes a conviction of the heart and a very unhealthy dissatisfaction with the status quo.