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Andrea Brillantes on doing drag: ‘Dapat malakas talaga yung loob mo’

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Rhea Manila Santos

<p>Last seen in the iWant series <em>Lyric and Beat</em>, Andrea Brillantes takes on a very different kind of role in her latest project called <em>Drag You &amp; Me.</em></p><p>“Ako dito si Betty. Siya ay mabait na anak at kaibigan, masipag na estudyante, at para makatulong s apamilya ay sumali ako sa isang drag contest at doon ako naging Valentine Royal. At dun ko din nakilala si Jason (played with JC Alcantara),” shared Andrea.</p><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsYhpV8B79n/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A652991.5999999046%2C%22ls%22%3A652188.3999999762%2C%22le%22%3A652195%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="0" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe><blockquote class=" instagram-media-registered" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsYhpV8B79n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" id="instagram-media-payload-0" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsYhpV8B79n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsYhpV8B79n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Andrea Brillantes (@blythe)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Even before joining the project, Andrea admitted she was already familiar with the drag community as a fan of a popular drag show competition.</p><p>“Mahilig talaga ako manuod ng drag queens and I find them very fascinating. So siyempre na-excite ako.</p><p>“At saka first time ko nakarinig ng ganitong concept na nandito sa Philippines. Alam ko sa ibang bansa meron ng nag-co-compete na girls sa mga RuPaul pero yung gagawa ka ng series, it’s the first ever iWant series about drag queens tapos babaeng bagets.</p><p>“Ba’t naman ako hihindi eh alam ko namang kaya ko ito. Sana mabigyan ko ng justice para sa drag community. Siyempre tinanggap ko ito. Bilang artista ang gusto kong roles na nabibigay sa akin is mga kakaiba at challenging.</p><p>“Wala ako masyadong inexpect kasi nanunuod na talaga ako ng <em>RuPaul’s Drag Race </em>so alam ko na yun. Dun kasi pinapakita na talaga kung gaano kahirap yun eh, yung paggawa mo ng damit, yung makeup mo ng ilang hours, and since nakapag-drag na rin ako sa isang vlog ko na nagawa ko na si Valentine Royal so wala na ako masyadong in-expect since lumaki na ako sa pag-hi-heels, sa pag-perform.</p><p>“Siguro nabigla lang ako nung first lip sync battle ko. Dun ko na-realize na iba talaga siya. Ginagawa ko yung lip sync battle sa Dub Smash, sa TikTok, sanay na ako dun. And ever since mahilig na ako mag-lip sync,” she explained</p><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsZWVDmSnEk/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A653008.0999999046%2C%22ls%22%3A652188.3999999762%2C%22le%22%3A652195%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="0" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe><blockquote class=" instagram-media-registered" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsZWVDmSnEk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" id="instagram-media-payload-1" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsZWVDmSnEk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsZWVDmSnEk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by PUSH (@pushalerts)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/3/27/blackpink-helps-andrea-brillante-pull-off-promposal-for-ricci-rivero-1013"><strong>READ: Blackpink helps Andrea Brillantes pull off ‘promposal’ for Ricci Rivero<br/></strong></a></div><p>While working on the iWant exclusive series, Andrea shared her discoveries about doing drag in the project.</p><p>“Ang pinakatinanong ko actually is yung pag-tuck. Paano yun pag-nag-si-CR? So yung water intake nila is mas less para hindi ka umihi. Iba yun. Ibang hirap yun talaga lalo na ako uhawin ako gusto ko lagi may maiinom.</p><p>“Iba yung struggle pa rin kapag drag queen ka na lalake ka, iba siya sa babae. Tapos kami sanay na kami sa heels so iba pa rin yung struggle ng dalawa. Kasi sila meron silang mga pad, meron silang mga corset para magkaroon sila ng woman-like figure.</p><p>“Secondly, na-realize ko na it takes guts, Dapat malakas talaga yung loob mo. At saka dapat witty ka lagi. Ang hirap nun kasi lagi mong i-entertain yung mga tao. Kailangan lagi kang explosive pero not too much para di naman cringe or unpleasant panuorin. Kailangan mahanap mo yung tamang mixture ng okay at hindi OA. </p><p>“Pangatlo, masaya siya. Kapag naka-drag ako feeling ko ang perfect ko. As in. Lalo na sa makeup ko. Kasi lagi akong conscious sa right side ng face ko. Gusto ko lagi dito anggulo ko pero  pag-naka-drag ako, wala akong anggulo. Ang liit liit ng ilong ako, ang laki laki ng labi ko at mata ko. I feel so invincible,” she explained.</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/3/13/andrea-brillantes-turns-20-marks-birthday-with-gorgeous-snaps-1739"><strong>READ: Andrea Brillantes turns 20, marks birthday with gorgeous snaps<br/></strong></a></div><p>Directed by JP Habac, <em>Drag You &amp; Me</em> also gave Andrea the opportunity to be with some of the country’s best drag queens. The 20-year-old Star Magic artist admitted she was excited to do scenes with them.</p><p>“Una pa lang, in-expect ko na maggiging beshy ko itong mga ito. Magiging beshies ko talaga sila. So yun naman nangyari naman naging friends ko naman sila. Naging super kong na-enjoy yung company nila.</p><p>“Tapos nakikinig lang sila sa akin sa mga kuwento ko at saka masaya off set. Babakla baklaan lang kami. Tinatanong ko yung mga love life nila, ganun, mga zodiac sign nila, mga pinagdaanan nila sa life.</p><p>“Pero pagdating sa eksena, nakaka-intimidate sila. Lalo na kasi ito yung craft nila eh. Dito sila pinakamagaling eh. Ako hindi. Kumbaga sa craft ko, Maricel Soriano sila, ganun kasi veterans na talaga sila dito.</p><p>“Nakaka-intimidate sila pero wala, hindi nila pinaramdam sa akin at kung meron akong kailangan na tulong, tutulungan naman nila ako. At ini-encourage nila ako or i-a-assure nila ako na I did great which means a lot for me kasi nakakaiyak yun kung sila mismo magsabi na, ‘Te, ang pangit ng ginawa mo dun.’ Pero hindi rin naman sila ganun. Ang babait nila sobra.</p><p>“At saka magaling sila, kahit umarte ang galing nila. Nakakatuwa, as in. Parang ang tali-talino nga ng mga tingin ko sa drag queen kasi kaya nila lahat. Kaya nila magtahi kung kailangan, kaya nilang mag-isip agad ng nakakatawa o nakakaiyak, kaya nilang umarte, sumayaw, mag-stunt. Kaya nila lahat. Ang galing,” she revealed.</p>

<p>Actress Andrea Brillantes talks about her latest role as a drag queen in the upcoming iWant exclusive series ‘Drag You & Me.’</p>

Actress Andrea Brillantes talks about her latest role as a drag queen in the upcoming iWant exclusive series ‘Drag You & Me.’