Marilag Odtohan

‘Bebot’ and ‘Kikay’ return with a message of embracing your femininity

With dramatic makeup transitions timed perfectly to throwback hits, a new generation is being introduced to terms, looks, and references that once defined Pinay beauty.

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>The year 2026 has arrived with a peculiar sense of deja vu.</p><p>Across social media feeds, the internet’s collective memory has been busy scrolling backwards. Netizens revisited who they were 10 years ago—back when flower crowns, dog filters, and carefully angled selfies defined an era of self-expression.</p><p>But some users did not stop at revisiting 2016 and went even further back</p><p>On platforms like TikTok, creators began reviving aesthetics rooted deep in the early years of Pinoy pop culture: the bebot and kikay. With dramatic makeup transitions timed perfectly to throwback hits, a new generation is being introduced to terms, looks, and references that once defined Pinay beauty.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘BADDIE’ IN TAGALOG? THAT’S BEBOT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Heavy doomscrolling on TikTok lately almost guarantees stumbling upon it: A creator staring into the camera barefaced before the beat drops.</p><p>Set to the rhythm of Black Eyed Peas’ “Bebot,” the screen cuts to a fully realized bebot—thin arched brows, smoky eyes, glossy lips, and voluminous hair that would feel right at home in a music video from two decades ago.</p><p>Depending on the context, the word “bebot” can mean “babe,” “hot girl,” or simply someone who carries herself with such sultriness—a baddie in modern internet language.</p><p>The term originated back in the &#x27;80s, but it gained popularity back in 2005 through the track “Bebot,” featured in the Black Eyed Peas album “Monkey Business”.</p><p> Written as a lyrical tribute by Apl de Ap, the song celebrated Pinoy culture and beauty in a way rarely seen in Western pop music at that time. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17729461159745ec6cdc2-9d29-4927-9d58-a02daa696fa3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Screengrab from Black Eyed Peas/YouTube"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Screengrab from Black Eyed Peas/YouTube</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Its music video offered playful nods to Filipino life: Colorful jeepneys cruising through the frame, the bebots, and a cameo from Jasmine Trias, one of the most known early bebots who was a finalist in American Idol. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772946150013bf8f7862-a977-413a-975b-225c39f892d5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Screengrab from Black Eyed Peas/YouTube"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Screengrab from Black Eyed Peas/YouTube</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Recently, Jasmine recalled her appearance in the music video which was released in 2006. She shared how happy she is to see a new generation discovering the song and connecting with the message it carries.</p><p>Her post quickly drew a response from Apl de Ap, who reacted shortly after she shared the nostalgic moment online.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVAQIKikQm-/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1026&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A10645905%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="766" 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>Many trace the current resurgence to creators Monique Libres and Belle Pauleen, igniting a wave of recreations, eventually crossing over to non-Filipino creators who adopted the look and the sound.</p><p>Some creators have taken on the challenge of transforming themselves into a historically accurate bebot.</p><p>The look typically features thin, sharply defined brows, cool-toned gray or silver eyeshadow, a matte base, and a noticeably pale, almost ashy under-eye finish.</p><p>It is accented with blush and bronzer, topped with glossy lips layered over nude lipstick. Completing the style are voluminous, poofed hair, oversized hoop earrings, and for a playful finish, a smack of gum.</p><p>While some creators incorporate elements of other beauty trends into their takes, many participants emphasized staying true to the classic look.</p><p>Rather than shying away from these other influences, the trend has become a nod for creators to appreciate and faithfully revisit the aesthetic that defined a generation.</p><p>The bebot archetype, however, has never existed solely within music videos or within a TikTok trend.</p><p>For many, the figure has been a recognizable presence across Pinoy culture. Variations have appeared in films like Jologs, featuring Assunta de Rossi’s portrayal of Iza, as well as through personalities like Angel Locsin, Joyce Jimenez, the SexBomb Girls, among others. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17729457189282d9dffd4-8cdd-47ea-b193-a2ab5d435f90.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Screengrab from Black Eyed Peas/YouTube"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Screengrab from ABS-CBN Star Cinema/YouTube</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>THE RETURN OF THE KIKAY</strong></div><p>Soon after the bebot trend gained momentum, another transformation began circulating across Tiktok—the kikay.</p><p>The term “kikay” carries its own cultural history. It is so embedded in Philippine English that it earned an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary, defined as a flirtatious girl or woman with a fondness for dressing up. </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772945492064Screenshot 2026-03-08 122617.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Many of the videos use the upbeat soundtrack of “Kikay,” the 2004 single by Viva Hot Babes, whose playful lyrics match the transformation perfectly. </p><p>Where the bebot aesthetic leans fierce and sultry, the kikay celebrates softness and exuberant femininity. Bright colors sweep across the eyelids and cheeks, hair accessories—clips, ribbons, butterfly pins—dot carefully styled locks. The vibe is intentionally maximalist, layered with accessories and joyful embellishment.</p><p>In essence, kikay describes someone who delights in enhancing their appearance through styling and playful self-expression. The current trend pays unmistakable tribute to the iconic charm of Jolina Magdangal. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772945816908a96a51e1-c6ef-4b42-8e0c-33cac786d0e4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Screengrab from ABS-CBN Star Cinema/YouTube</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>During the 90s, Jolina skyrocketed to fame with her lovable romcom films, alongside on-screen partner Marvin Agustin. In films such as “Flames: The Movie,” “Hey Babe!,” &quot;Kung Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo!&quot; among others, she embodied the color-loving spirit that would eventually define the kikay aesthetic.</p><p>Her signature style eventually became a template for many young girls—practically a childhood rite of passage. From classrooms to neighborhood streets, it is common to see kids sporting similar looks, from colorful outfits to the unmistakable hair clips.</p><p>Other personalities also embraced the playful, ultra-feminine style at the time, including Angelica Panganiban, Sandara Park, Anne Curtis, Heart Evangelista, Kathryn Bernardo, among others.</p><p>Although the kikay aesthetic has carried stereotypes of vanity or being “too maarte,” many have since reclaimed it as a positive expression of identity. By embracing the playful fashion and curated accessories, they turned this label into a form of empowerment and personal style. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT THIS RESURGENCE MEANS</strong></div><p>The twin resurgence of bebot and kikay touches on a deeper conversation about Filipino beauty and identity.</p><p>In the Philippines, notions of beauty and self-expression have long been shaped by a mix of global and regional influences.</p><p>Western standards and East Asian trends have left a strong imprint on what is considered attractive. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with these preferences, yet the influence is visible everywhere: From shelves stocked with skin-lightening products to advertising that often equates beauty with a lighter complexion—reinforcing the perception that fair skin is the default standard.</p><p>Moreso, these notions have also been shaped by social expectations where those who are soft-spoken are encouraged to become stronger or more assertive, while those who are bold or outspoken are asked to tone down themselves. It reveals the fact that some individuals are frequently guided to fit a narrow, socially acceptable mold of femininity.</p><p>But the resurgence of bebot and kikay suggests that Pinoy beauty and expressions cannot be boxed into a single frame.</p><p>Hence, for others, this phenomenon opens a conversation on the freedom to exist on that spectrum—encouraging women and feminine individuals to embrace their femininity in whatever form feels most authentic to them.</p><p>Perhaps what makes the trend so compelling is how it turns the gaze inward, encouraging people to revisit the icons, styles, and aesthetics that have always been Pinoy—finding value in what is already theirs.</p><p>From Jolina Magdangal to Jasmine Trias to the women of today and tomorrow, to the Morena, Kakaibabe, Dyosa, Reyna ng Quezon City, Monyeka, gandang Pinay has embraced a kind of girlhood that is a mix of fun, flair, confidence, and creativity—a celebration that feels especially timely in honoring Women’s Month.</p>

<p>With dramatic makeup transitions timed perfectly to throwback hits, a new generation is being introduced to terms, looks, and references that once defined Pinay beauty.</p>