From being an award-winning actor to his popular make-up transformations, Paolo Ballesteros is now a fashion designer.
NEW KID IN TOWN - Actor-turned-fashion designer Paolo Ballesteros poses with Agatha Romero who wore his creation at the Terno Competition of the 50th Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant held in Taguig City Tuesday night. Ballesteros debuts as a fashion designer in the pre-pageant activity. (Image by Robert R. Requintina/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Ballesteros, co-host of the longest-running noontime show "Eat Bulaga," made his debut as a couturier at the Terno Competition of the 50th Mutya Ng Pilipinas beauty pageant held in Taguig City Tuesday night.
"Naging mahilig talaga ako sa mga pageants nung sumali si Venus Raj. Tapos nagkaroon ako ng mga friends na designers. Then tumutulong ako sa pag design ng Filipiniana or gowns sa pageants," Ballesteros in an exclusive interview. (I turned to fashion since Venus Raj joined the pageant. Then I have friends who are fashion designers. I help them design the Filipiniana or gowns in pageants).
His fondness for fashion started when he was younger, he recalls. "Nuon talaga secret lang. Nung bata pa lamang ako, mga Barbie dolls ng kapatid ko binibihisan ko). Tapos tumulong na ako mag-design ng gown ng candidates sa Bb. Pilipinas." (It used to be a secret. Not anymore. I used to dress up the Barbie dolls of my sisters. Then I helped my designer-friends in creating the gowns for candidates of Bb. Pilipinas).
Ballesteros, 35, conceptualized the patriotic-themed terno of Agatha Romero who represents the Manila City in the pre-pageant activity of Mutya ng Pilipinas contest. "The design of terno has something to do with Manila. It's very simple." He was accompanied by his friends Domz Ramos of DR SWIM, Paul Semira, Jian Lasala and Manny Halasan in the pageant.
Asked if he would like to build a fashion house in the future, Ballesteros laughs and says: "Hindi naman ganun. Para sa akin mai- voice out ko lang 'yung design na gusto ko okay na. Mas maganda na nagiging reality kung ano sa tingin mo yung maganda." (Not really. For me what matters is that I am able to turn into reality the design that I really like)
Ballesteros adds: "Gusto ko ituloy ito at sana makita yung gawa ko sa international scene." (I will continue to create or design gowns. I hope that my creations will penetrate the international market).
Given the chance, the television host says that he wants to design a terno for female politicians who will attend the State of the Nation Address or Sona.
In 2017, Ballesteros made waves when he won Best Actor in the critically-acclaimed gender bender film "Die Beautiful." He earned raves from Tokyo International Film Festival, Metro Manila Film Festival and Gawad Urian for that movie. The actor continues to impress his fans with his various make-up transformations of celebrities here and abroad.