THROWBACK: How Kathryn Bernardo slayed the red carpet of the Star Magic Ball like a queen

With blockbuster hit movies and top-rating teleseryes under her belt, not to mention the recognitions and accolades that she’s been receiving from various local and international award-giving bodies, Kathryn Bernardo is indeed worthy of the prestigious “Asia’s Superstar” title.

As time goes by, it’s not only her performances as an actress that we’ve found truly award-winning and remarkable, but her sense of style as well. Thus, there is no wonder why she’s hailed as one of the fashion icons in the country and is among the much-awaited stars to grace various events, such as the annual Star Magic Ball.

She had her maiden appearance in 2010 when she was only 14. Since she was in her early teenage years then, it reflected onto the ensembles that she wore on her first two years of attending. On her red-carpet debut, she had an asymmetric black column dress with an exaggerated silver and black bow on its left shoulder. Putting her hair into a chignon and wearing only minimal accessories indeed made her natural morena beauty stand out. She paraded on the red carpet with her Goin’ Bulilit fellow alumni Miles Ocampo and John Manalo.

It was followed by the appliqued blush-hued sweetheart frock that she donned in 2011, which she matched with a bejeweled headband and glittery accessories. She was escorted by her "Wayback Home" leading man Enrique Gil.

The year 2012 was indeed a momentous one for her as she attended the glitzy affair with her then-new loveteam partner Daniel Padilla for the first time. That was when they first starred on their first-ever television series Princess & I as a pair and started appearing together every year, until they became real-life sweethearts. Making it extra memorable was when they took home the “Star Magic Ball Breakout Style Award,” with Kath receiving it while cladded in a bedazzled white sweetheart dress.

KathNiel once again snagged an award in the 2013 Star Magic Ball. Appearing in an embellished beige trumpet dress that featured a sparkling bodice that flowed down to its tulle skirt, the “Teen Queen” received the first-ever “Couple of the Night Award” alongside her king.

Adhering to the “Old Hollywood Glam” theme the following year, Kathryn rocked the red carpet with a sparkling number with beaded bodice and feathery skirt. She balanced out her delicate look by painting her lips red and sporting a trendy wavy lob that made her appear fiercer and more glamorous.

The award-winning actress once again opted for a white gown in 2015. However, she veered away from the usual princess-like silhouettes that she donned in the previous stagings of the star-studded affair as she put on a custom long-sleeved laser-cut sheath serpentine dress that bared her sexy back.

Kathryn was such a head-turner in 2016 as she sashayed down the red carpet in a strapless shimmering black gown adorned with black Swarovski crystals and specks of paillettes down to its short train. Making her look sexier and edgier was its thigh-high slit and her long straight hair down.

And in the last edition of the Star Magic Ball in 2017, she completely enchanted us with her majestic and ethereal appearance as she wore a fully embellished ball gown that exposed her décolletage. Adding a dash of glow and chic to her aura that stellar night was her morena complexion and wavy long locks that was half up and half down. No wonder she was bestowed the “Brightest Star of the Night Award.s”

With how she graced the celebrity gathering with minimal makeup and accessories, Kathryn Bernardo is a living proof that less is indeed more! Will it be that way again for this year’s ABS-CBN Ball that will be held on the 30^th of September? That’s for us to see.

Apart from being a star-studded night of glitz and glamour, the upcoming ABS-CBN Ball 2023 will also put the spotlight on the stories of thanksgiving, togetherness, and hope shared by Kapamilya artists, employees, partners, and collaborators, who all share the vision of delivering stories that promote human good to our dear audiences. Moreover, it will also aim to raise funds for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation.