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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Fashion and Beauty devider How queer creatives use fashion to celebrate, resist, and reclaim

How queer creatives use fashion to celebrate, resist, and reclaim

Published Jun 19, 2025 12:51 pm
There is no denying the transformative power of fashion. Putting on pieces you love—whether it’s something as simple as a denim jacket, a classic silk blouse, or a striking pair of boots—can instantly lift one’s mood. Its purpose goes beyond merely covering the body. While fashion focuses on the visual—design, façade, and appearance—it has a unique way of bringing out something from within its wearers. The way people style their clothes becomes a form of validation for what they’re feeling, allowing them to step out into the world as their authentic selves, or as who they wish to become.
This sentiment is something many people in the LGBTQIA+ community deeply relate to. For the longest time, fashion has served as a vital avenue for self-expression. For the community, dressing up isn’t just about putting on clothes—it’s about presenting themselves in a way that feels true to who they are. Over the years, the fashion industry has become a space where many queer creatives have thrived. Eventually, fashion evolved into a powerful medium for expressing solidarity, challenging norms, and reclaiming narratives.
As we celebrate Pride Month this June, Manila Bulletin Lifestyle dives deep into the power of fashion and personal style within the queer community. Through the looks and creations of some of today’s rising drag artists and fashion creatives, we discover how bold choices and unapologetic flair become not only a form of celebration—but also a powerful act of resistance.
Vilrick Cruz
Vilrick Cruz
When I launched my brand, House of Vilrique, I built it on the motto ‘Dauntless Beauty.’ That phrase is deeply personal to me—it represents fearlessness in self-expression and a commitment to finding beauty, even in the face of rejection or limitation. Fashion can be disruptive, healing, and deeply political. Just showing up as yourself can be an act of quiet rebellion.—Vilrick Cruz, fashion designer
Yudi
Yudi
Fashion has always been part of my life, ever since I was a kid. It was my way of showing who I was, what my mood was, and what my outlook on life was like. It’s how I tell my story and show where I came from, which simply made me feel more confident about myself.—Yudi, drag artist
Willar Mateo
Willar Mateo
Fashion became a medium for me to express my art through a queer lens in a kitschy, fun way, using elements that reflect my environment, my weird chaotic ideas, and my pursuit to make non-fashion ideas fashionable. I'm all about collecting things that are fun, juvenile, colorful, and witty. Personal style-wise, I love rendering men’s fashion in a distorted sense of what is masculine.—Willar Mateo, founder and designer of Salad Day
Aries Night
Aries Night
My drag persona lets me express myself in a way that Thom (my out-of-drag self) couldn’t. Out of drag, I’m male-presenting and I like to dress lowkey, which fits my personality well. Aries, on the other hand, is a hyper-feminine rock star who loves to dress to impress. But what they have in common? About 85 percent of their wardrobe is black. In my early years in drag, being Aries gave me the confidence I lacked as Thom. Eventually, I learned how to marry the best parts of both worlds—and that’s who I am today.—Aries Night, drag artist

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fashion and beauty Pride month LGBTQIA+
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