After more than two decades in show business, award-winning actress Kathryn Bernardo has added another milestone to her career by becoming the youngest Filipino icon to have a wax figure displayed at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. The figure was officially unveiled on July 9, 2026, during a launch event at Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, ahead of its permanent display in Hong Kong.

Known for its lifelike wax figures of celebrities, historical figures, athletes, world leaders, and fictional characters, Madame Tussauds welcomed Kathryn into its roster of global personalities. For the actress, the recognition is as much her fans' achievement as it is hers.

“Every milestone has a story, and this milestone is a reminder to my fans that they are part of this journey. They made today possible, and their belief in me means so much.” Kathryn said. “And I am grateful that I get to do the thing that I love the most, which is acting, so thank you for that.”

The actress admitted that the honor did not immediately sink in. While she was thrilled upon learning about the project, it only felt real after spending half a day with the Madame Tussauds creative team for measurements and concept discussions.

“I am a fan of Madame Tussauds. My family and I went to one of the museums in Los Angeles, California. Then one day, my mom sent me a deck from Madame Tussauds, and I saw that it was me! Why me?” she recalled. “But nothing actually sank in until I met the UK team. They are so amazing.”

The wax figure recreates Kathryn's look from the 2023 Outstanding Asian Star Awards in Seoul, South Korea, where she received the Outstanding Asian Star honor. Nicknamed "Kath-twin," the figure is dressed in the original gown created by Filipino designer Martin Bautista, the same ensemble Kathryn wore during the awards ceremony. The look was chosen to commemorate one of the defining moments of her career and celebrate her achievements as a Filipino artist on the international stage.

During the unveiling, Kathryn also reflected on the significance of the recognition, which comes after a remarkable run in Philippine cinema. She is currently the country's highest-grossing Filipino actress, with the worldwide box office earnings of “Hello, Love, Again” surpassing the ₱1 billion mark in sales.

Meanwhile, Wade Chang, general manager of Gateway Hong Kong under Merlin Entertainments, said Kathryn was selected because of her exceptional talent and achievements.

“We recognized true Filipino talent that shines through different industries and categories,” he said. “From pageants, sports, TV, and even film, we can attest to the fact that Filipino talents and their supporters are something else.”

Despite reaching another career high, Kathryn said she is in no rush to chase her next achievement. While she has several upcoming projects, including a television series with James Reid, she wants to appreciate the present instead of constantly looking ahead.

“I have a lot of goals,” she said. “But what I learned is that I need to savor everything and enjoy it. I don’t want to rush anything. Yes, I have a lot of goals, but sometimes we’re so focused on the future that we don’t get to appreciate the present anymore. I have a series this July, and after that, a lot of things are coming up. I just want to be happy, to live a good, balanced life more than anything.”

Beginning July 17, "Kath-twin" will be on display at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. Kathryn joins an esteemed group of Filipinos immortalized by the museum, including Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga, Pia Wurtzbach, Catriona Gray, and Anne Curtis.

For Kathryn, Hong Kong is a fitting home for her wax figure because of its connection to one of the most memorable chapters of her career.

“Hong Kong will always have a special place in my heart. We created Joy (her character from her box-office hit movie) there. We stayed there for a month to shoot,” she said. “We have a lot of ‘kababayan’ there, that is why it’s a perfect place for my "Kath-twin" to be there—a piece of Philippines there. I hope it will create a lot of good memories, especially for the fans to look back at the journey we went through together.”

She also hopes her recognition will pave the way for more Filipinos to be honored by Madame Tussauds in the future.

“There are a lot of things Filipinos could offer not just here in the Philippines but globally. I hope this will open doors to that and again thank you for considering us,” she said. “Also, I want to inspire more Filipinos out there, especially the younger ones, that you can dream big and it could happen if you put in a lot of hard work.”