By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
FROM being an award-winning actor to his popular make-up transformations, Paolo Ballesteros is now a fashion designer.
Ballesteros, co-host of the longest-running noontime show “Eat Bulaga,” made his debut as a couturier at the Terno Competition of the 50th Mutya Ng Pilipinas beauty pageant held in Taguig City Tuesday night.
“Naging mahilig talaga ako sa mga pageants nung sumali si Venus Raj. Tapos nagkaroon ako ng mga friends na designers. Then tumutulong ako sa pag design ng Filipiniana or gowns sa pageants,” Ballesteros said in an exclusive interview.
His fondness for fashion started when he was younger, he recalls. “Nuon talaga secret lang. Nung bata pa lamang ako, mga Barbie dolls ng kapatid ko binibihisan ko.”
Ballesteros, 35, conceptualized the patriotic-themed terno of Agatha Romero who represents the Manila City in the pre-pageant activity of Mutya ng Pilipinas contest. “The design has something to do with Manila. It’s very simple,” he says.
He was accompanied by his friends Domz Ramos of DR SWIM, Paul Semira, Jian Lasala and Manny Halasan at the event.
Asked if he would like to establish a fashion house in the future, Ballesteros laughs and says: “Hindi naman ganun. Para sa akin mai-voice out ko lang ‘yung design na gusto ko okay na. Mas maganda na nagiging reality kung ano sa tingin mo yung maganda.”
Ballesteros adds: “Gusto ko ituloy ito at sana makita yung gawa ko sa international scene.”
Given the chance, the television host says that he wants to design a terno for female politicians who will attend the State-of-the-Nation Address or SoNA.
In 2017, Ballesteros made waves when he won Best Actor in the critically-acclaimed gender bender film “Die Beautiful.” He earned raves from Tokyo International Film Festival, Metro Manila Film Festival, and Gawad Urian for that movie. The actor continues to impress his fans with his various make-up transformations of celebrities here and abroad.
