Photographed by Excel Panlaque.
At the Vogue Faces casting call, and in partnership with Vaseline Philippines, emerging talents reflect on confidence, identity, and self-expression through their skin and body
On the final day of Vogue Threads Manila 2025, hopeful talents lined up as early as nine in the morning outside The Art Space at RCBC Plaza. For some, the journey was long; many had traveled from neighboring provinces or flown into Manila for the day.
In this year’s casting call, the invitation was the same as the Vogue Faces search that came before that. In partnership with Vaseline Philippines, the prompt on social media was simple: “Tell us the story of your skin.” Chosen participants from the casting call over TikTok and Instagram received complimentary access to Vogue Threads Manila 2025.
The Saturday audition unfolded across a series of stations designed to capture both presence and personality. Registration began on the third floor before participants moved upstairs to explore “Body Language: Portrait of the Filipino,” an exhibit of portraits by Shaira Luna in collaboration with Vaseline Philippines.
They then stepped into the Capture Station, a mirror photo space, before preparing at the Vaseline touch-up stations, where the Gluta-Hya Serum Burst Lotions, Dewy Radiance, Pro-Age Restore, Overnight Radiance Repair, Flawless Bright, and Luminous Defense SPF 50 PA+++ were on display for use. While waiting, participants had their choice of coffee from Frank and Dean, and refreshments from Evian. Photos and measurements followed, captured by photographer Roj Maguyon, with the process ending in a one-on-one interview with Vogue Philippines editors.
For 22-year-old Harold Cantos, the road to the casting call was both literal and symbolic. A recent Hospitality Management graduate, he regularly made the drive from Quezon Province to Manila to pursue his dream of modeling as a teenager. “Modeling [has] been my dream since I was a kid. It started when I was 12, but I didn’t start right away because I really had low self-esteem,” he shares.
Cantos recalls years of rejections that have also tested his confidence, even considering quitting until he recently made it as a finalist in a national modeling competition. “The casting call experience was something I didn’t expect. I didn’t feel any pressure or an ounce of nervousness,” he shares.
Standing inside The Art Space, Cantos felt energized. “The photos gave me an adrenaline rush. I kept saying to my friend, ‘I want to have a shoot like this too, that one, also, and this one.’”
Coming to the casting call, Tourism Management student Isla Feria realized that participating in the event is also about embracing her warm skin tone. “As a child, the idea that lighter skin was considered the standard of beauty was ingrained in my mind,” she reflects. But it was through seeing more models with the same skin tone as her in Vogue Philippines that shifted her perspective. “It opens our eyes, showing how beautiful kayumanggi skin truly is.”
The 21-year-old also shares that the experience was fruitful as well. “For me, modeling felt like the path where I could fully express myself and be part of the creative energy of fashion,” says Feria. She also shares that it wasn’t just about the chance to be featured in the magazine. “It’s also about immersing myself deeper into the industry, meeting creatives, learning from their craft, and seeing how far my passion could take me.”
By late afternoon, the casting gave way to community. Participants, editors, and guests gathered for the closing socials of Vogue Threads Manila. Vaseline Philippines invited content creators Andrea Rosales, Robin Jay Bernales, Yael Arevalo, Paul Allen Santos, and Francheska Lian to join the festivities.
As an event partner, Vaseline Philippines aims to spread its message of being confident in one’s skin, no matter the journey. According to the brand, the Gluta-Hya Serum Burst Lotions work to hydrate, brighten with ingredients like GlutaGlow Technology that has 70x more brightening power versus Vitamin C and 4D Hyaluron for multi-layer deep skin hydration, all without the stickiness.
For more information, follow Vaseline Philippines on Instagram.
