Czarina Faith Abuso

2024’s winning moments Part 3: Filipino stars shine on global stage

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E. Kristhoff Cagape

<p>From fashion to music, pageantry and cinema, 2024 has been a landmark year for Filipinos making waves across the globe.</p><p>As we continue to highlight the winning moments of 2024, these milestones reflect the exceptional talent and influence of Filipinos.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>1. Heart Evangelista as a global fashion force</strong></div><p>Heart Evangelista graced numerous fashion shows hosted by the world’s biggest brands during the Paris Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week in 2024.  </p><p>Back in October 2024, Heart became the highest-ranking celebrity from APAC (Asia Pacific) in media impact value for the Spring/Summer 2025 season of Paris Fashion Week.</p><p>According to marketing and analytics platform Launchmetrics, Heart generated $10.6 million in MIV (media impact value), making her the top-performing APAC celebrity for the fashion week.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DA4tATWSv7r/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=420&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A4058803.8000001907%2C%22ls%22%3A4058167.2000000477%2C%22le%22%3A4058776.7000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1359" 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 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>The Filipina fashion icon also graced various international magazine covers in 2024 including the digital cover of <em>Vogue Singapore</em> and the cover of <em>Prestige Hong Kong.</em></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>2. Pia Wurtzbach&#x27;s rise as a global fashion influencer </strong></div><p>Another Filipina who shone in the global fashion scene in 2024 is Pia Wurtzbach who attended fashion shows in Milan, Paris, and New York.</p><p>During the Paris Fashion Week in September 2024, the former Miss Universe graced the runway of L’Oreal’s &quot;Le Défilé ‘Walk Your Worth&quot; show. She also graced the runway of Michael Cinco&#x27;s fashion show in Paris.</p><p>Launchmetrics reported that Pia Wurtzbach claimed the top spot as the leading celebrity influencer at New York Fashion Week held in September, generating an impressive MIV of $6.8 million.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBLkvRPTtQr/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=420&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A4058813.9000000954%2C%22ls%22%3A4058167.2000000477%2C%22le%22%3A4058776.7000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1089" 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 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Back in April, Pia was awarded as the Global Fashion Influencer of the Year Award at the 2024 Emigala Fashion &amp; Beauty Awards in Dubai. She was also named as the top celebrity influencer at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 after generating a Media Impact Value (MIV) of $8.1 million as per Launchmetrics.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>3. Lea Salonga and Anne Curtis immortalized in Madame Tussauds wax figures</strong></div><p>Lea Salonga and Anne Curtis unveiled their Madame Tussauds wax figures in 2024.</p><p>Lea&#x27;s wax figure for Madame Tussauds Singapore was unveiled in September 2024. The Filipina Broadway star shared that it was a meaningful full-circle moment for both her and her mother, Ligaya. She recalled that when she was 12, she and her mom visited Madame Tussauds and were captivated by the lifelike wax figures.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_4OiaEyihL/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=420&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A4058824.4000000954%2C%22ls%22%3A4058167.2000000477%2C%22le%22%3A4058776.7000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="683" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" 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 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>&quot;<em>There was a wax likeness of Liza Minnelli who I later on I got to meet in my own life. So she’s there posing in her tux and pixie hair cut. My mother and I were both looking at it and she said, &#x27;Anak, you’ll never know. One day, that could be you,&#x27;&quot; she recounted. &quot;So this moment today, is a manifestation of what happened 40 or so years ago</em>.&quot;</p><p>Meanwhile, Anne unveiled her wax figure for Madame Tussauds Hong Kong in November.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC6MNeMyTaU/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=420&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A4060456.4000000954%2C%22ls%22%3A4058167.2000000477%2C%22le%22%3A4058776.7000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1125" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" 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 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>&quot;<em>I&#x27;m truly honored to be celebrating this moment, being immortalized by Madame Tussauds Hong Kong,&quot; she remarked. &quot;Sobrang hindi ako makapaniwala na I was given this opportunity</em>.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>4. Sofronio Vasquez becomes first Filipino and Asian to win &#x27;The Voice US&#x27; </strong></div><p>Sofronio Vasquez made history as the first Filipino and Asian to win<em> The Voice </em>in the US. <em></em>He was part of Michael Bublé&#x27;s team in the reality singing competition.</p><p>In an interview with Yong Chavez of ABS-CBN News, the singer remarked that winning the competition felt like a full circle moment.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDdYeJzSmue/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=420&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A4060580.4000000954%2C%22ls%22%3A4058167.2000000477%2C%22le%22%3A4058776.7000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="611" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" 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 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>&quot;<em>I really think that the way to move on and to move further for a possible and a beautiful journey in life is just to keep going. We just have to try and dream</em>,&quot; he remarked.</p><p>He went on: &quot;<em>I was just dreaming. It was really impossible to think back then. And that moment when Carson Daly called my name, parang nag-break down ako because it&#x27;s like a flashback of every rejection, every redirection na oh ito pala &#x27;yun... Now it was like a culmination of ito pala &#x27;yun, thank you Lord</em>.&quot;</p><p>Sofronio was a former finalist of <em>Tawag Ng Tanghalan</em> of <em>It&#x27;s Showtime.</em></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>5. Sophia Laforteza debuts in global girl group KATSEYE</strong></div><p>Filipina singer Sophia Laforteza debuted in June 2024 as a member of the global girl group KATSEYE with the release of their first single, &quot;<em>Debut</em>.&quot; This was followed in July 2024 by their breakout hit, &quot;<em>Touch</em>.&quot;</p><p>In August 2024, the group released their first extended play (EP), <em>SIS (Soft Is Strong)</em>, marking another milestone in their rising career.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-1wDDgRNmk/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=420&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A4060707.8000001907%2C%22ls%22%3A4058167.2000000477%2C%22le%22%3A4058776.7000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="810" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" 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 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Following the release of their EP, KATSEYE went on an Asia tour including stops in Korea, the Philippines, and Japan back in September 2024. </p><p>In an interview with the Philippine media back in September, Sophia expressed her gratitude to the Filipino fans for supporting their song &quot;Touch&quot; which made it to the Billboard Philippines Hot 100.</p><p>&quot;<em>I feel like &#x27;Touch&#x27; resonating with people, a lot of it comes from its sound and the choreography, and I feel like just how much we put into it and the intention. We’re so, so grateful</em>,&quot; she said on the success of the track in the country.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>6. Chelsea Manalo is first Miss Universe Asia</strong></div><p>Filipina beauty queen Chelsea Manalo made history as the first Miss Universe Asia. Chelsea received the title at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico.</p><p>&quot;<em>To represent my country and the whole Asia with such a title and platform, this is an honor I&#x27;ll forever treasure</em>,&quot; Chelsea said after receiving the title.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDTVu2VStIf/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=420&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A4061875.7000000477%2C%22ls%22%3A4058167.2000000477%2C%22le%22%3A4058776.7000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1089" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" 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 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Chelsea will be working with the different continental queens and with Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjaer Theilvig for the charities and causes that the Miss Universe Organization supports.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>7. Maris Racal&#x27;s film &#x27;Sunshine&#x27; premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival </strong></div><p>Maris Racal&#x27;s movie<em> Sunshine</em> became part of the official selection of the 49th Toronto International Film Festival and was the lone Filipino film under the Centrepiece Programme in September 2024.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-7" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-ui3qkTYsS/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=420&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A7%2C%22os%22%3A4061989.5%2C%22ls%22%3A4058167.2000000477%2C%22le%22%3A4058776.7000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="981" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-7" 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 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>The Centrepiece section &quot;<em>honors and celebrates global cinematic achievements, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in a dynamic array of contemporary films.</em>&quot;</p><p>&quot;<em>Saludo sa mga bumubuo ng pelikulang ito, lalo na kay Direk Tonet (Jadaone) na ilang taon itong trinabaho. Hanga ako sa dedikasyon at puso ng mga kasama ko rito</em>,&quot; Maris said on being part of the film.</p>

<p>As we continue to highlight the winning moments of 2024, these milestones reflect the exceptional talent and influence of Filipinos.</p>

As we continue to highlight the winning moments of 2024, these milestones reflect the exceptional talent and influence of Filipinos.

2024’s winning moments Part 3: Filipino stars shine on global stage

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2024’s winning moments Part 3: Filipino stars shine on global stage

Toff C.

Published Jan 04, 2025 08:35 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 05, 2025 07:00 PM PHT

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Heart Evangelista

Pia Wurtzbach

Lea Salonga

Anne Curtis

Sophia Laforteza

Chelsea Manalo

Sofronio Vasquez

Maris Racal

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