Photographed by Gab Villareal
Models Kalye Paguntalan, Alex Gutierrez, Gel Jimenez, Adriana Yu, and Lake Cabrias share their experiences from childhood to Manila casting call and beyond.
Since the announcement of the global Vogue Faces casting call, more than 400 aspiring models have sent in their video entries on TikTok, responding to the prompt: “What makes you, you?” As submissions undergo review on a rolling basis, Vogue Philippines sits down with five models from last year’s Manila casting call to find out the same and share their stories and experiences.
Kalye Paguntalan
Kevin “Kalye” Paguntalan discovered his love for photography while growing up as a seafarer in Iloilo. As a child, he developed an attentive eye from his early morning trips, but it wasn’t until college that he cast his gaze toward home. The marine transportation graduate recalls strolling through downtown Iloilo, on a photo walk with friends, when he began to see the city in a new light. “Photos are personal,” he realized. “Iba yung paningin (The way of seeing is different).” Now based in Rizal, the 30-year-old photographer harbors a deep respect for his subjects and takes his nickname, Kalye Marino, from the streets he sails through.
When Kalye learned about Vogue Faces through his partner, he took it as a sign to try moving from behind the camera to the front. On the day of the casting call, which happened to be his birthday, he felt nervous, excited, and a little out of place. Still, the team drew him to show up, and he felt hopeful upon seeing the diversity of his fellow applicants. Kalye received a callback three weeks later and was the first to arrive in Baguio for the February 2025 editorial shoot. He wasn’t used to seeing himself in the frame, but he treasured his conversations with the team, whose lens offered him a different perspective.
Today, Kalye explores scriptwriting, set and props design, and other areas of filmmaking, a pivot he made during the pandemic. In his search for safe spaces, he names the pop-up cinema SineSadya, where he first saw Glenn Barit’s Cleaners in Baguio. Since then, the language of film has brought him comfort, and he admires its ability to convey Filipino values in visual form. Eager to hone his skills in the creative industry, Kalye hopes to shoot his own films, collaborate with more artists, and keep learning from his surroundings. Led by wonder, he turns observations into creations, open to flowing where his stories take him.
Alex Gutierrez
22-year-old Alex Gutierrez has always dreamt big. As the youngest of eight siblings, she grew up with a vivid imagination and spent her childhood putting on make-believe scenarios: a zombie takeover where humans evaded bites with Nerf blasters, or a fashion show where towels transformed into dresses and updos. Based in Silang, Cavite, the third-year multimedia arts student has pictured herself modeling since sixth grade, a dream she began pursuing this year with the encouragement of her twin sister.
Vogue Faces was Alex’s first casting call, and while the long wait led to a missed PE class, she appreciated the relaxed nature of her interview, the assistance of the makeup team, and the validating feedback she received during her photoshoot. The experience taught her patience and professionalism. “It was stressful, but when it was all done, it felt really worth it. Like I’m getting somewhere,” she shares.
In her downtime, Alex runs, listens to pop music, and cares for five dogs. She enjoys the nature and quiet of her home in the south, and cherishes her connections with family, who support her dreams on and beyond the stage. She recently walked her first runway at the Bench Design Awards, where she learned to take challenges, like too-large heels, in stride. “The walk I’m most proud of is the walk where I tripped up the most,” she laughs. “I think it happens to everyone. It was fun.”
Always energetic, Alex encourages fellow models to try everything and not let their thoughts hold them back. For her, knowing your look is only half the job, and the rest is about testing limits with a childlike curiosity. A budding talent, she sees every opportunity as a possibility and a chance to play.
Gel Jimenez
For Gel Jimenez, every detail matters. As a model, a real estate agent, and the manager of a queer nightclub in Quezon City, he not only values being on top of his duties, but also seeing the world from top to bottom, recognizing the small gestures that make an experience whole and elevated.
Born and raised in Tondo, Manila, Gel was inspired by his mother, a beauty queen, to embrace his androgyny and pursue pageantry and modeling. He remembers early mornings as a child, when he’d wake up to the scent of her Avon perfume as she prepared for the day at her boudoir. “She was always at her best. She would never go out na hindi nakaayos (if she wasn’t put-together)” he recalls fondly. “That’s one of the things I got from her.”
Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, when the mass communication graduate had to prioritize his earnings and his family, Gel returned to modeling last year and joined the Vogue Faces casting call. He made the most of his wait by getting to know the team, an initiative he takes in all his jobs. Building relationships is central to Gel’s color- and gender-neutral brand, through which he advocates for inclusivity.
When Gel saw his headshot on the banner of Vogue Philippines’ global casting call, he felt grateful. Now signed with a talent agency, the 30-year-old aims to be the openly queer representation he didn’t see while growing up. When asked about his goals, he replied: to be as visible as possible, “in print, in digitals, in runways,” but also to his community in moments the camera doesn’t capture.
“It’s important to be there for people, whether you know them or not,” he says of the Manila nightlife scene. “Sometimes yung hello or even a 7-second hug. It really helps.” Fueled by passion, practicality, and pride, Gel is committed to evolving as a mentor, uplifting the next generation with an eye for intention.
Adriana Yu
College freshman Adriana Yu finds joy in a host of hobbies. From singing and playing the guitar to dancing and taking pictures, she loves to express herself through different artistic mediums.
Based in Cagayan de Oro, Adriana entered high school during the pandemic; it was then that she put her interest in fashion to practice, learning to sew and embroider. “It’s nice to get to create pretty dresses, pretty things,” she shares with a smile. A lover of beauty, the 19-year-old is drawn to beads, sparkles, and gowns, citing archival Dior as an inspiration.
When Adriana heard about Vogue Faces through social media, the thought of modeling other people’s designs appealed to her, and she saw it as a fun opportunity. She showed up to the casting call right after class and struck up a conversation with her seatmates, some of whom attended the same school. She expressed feeling a little awkward during her photoshoot, but also comforted by the team’s guidance when it came to posing.
Lately, Adriana has been focusing on her studies while navigating the hybrid university setup, where she plans to transition from accountancy to entrepreneurship. When she isn’t staying with her grandparents in Quezon City, she visits home and spends time at the nearby beach and farm. Being independent comes naturally to Adriana, though she looks forward to making new connections and exploring the world of fashion in her future.
Lake Cabrias
Family and friends are a huge part of modeling for Lake Cabrias, a 19-year-old incoming college student from Imus, Cavite. Whether it’s rewatching classic films and TV shows with her mother, or sharing meals and exploring shops at the mall with her classmates (an after-school occasion they dub “Detox Fridays”), spending quality time with loved ones is her favorite activity. It was their support, she shares, that led her to the Vogue Faces casting call and her print debut on the cover of Vogue Philippines’ February 2025 issue.
Lake recalls nearly missing the Manila casting call because of a research defense at school. Thankfully, her parents made it work, immediately driving to Vogue Threads after her report. They arrived just before the 1:30 P.M. cutoff, and the trio waited in line, chatting with other applicants, for the entire afternoon. When Lake was invited to the editorial shoot in Baguio, her parents couldn’t leave work to accompany her. But months later, amid weak signal in Boracay, all three of them were refreshing social media to see her pictures for the first time.
Signed with an international agency, the high school graduate credits her openness to her upbringing. Casting call days are a family affair, an opportunity to check out restaurants together and enjoy pre-pandemic-like days, the kind spent watching Marvel movies at the cinema or swimming at the beach. A sister to two brothers, Lake expresses feeling free to be silly and fully self-expressed. “The perception ng mga tao sa middle child is parang laging nale-left out, pero I don’t feel that sa family namin. Parang lahat kami included,” she says.
Currently, Lake is in the process of enrolling in online courses to make space for her career and her dreams in aviation. Her advice to the next batch of models? Don’t overthink, be confident, and have a great support system, one that shares your wins and sees your inherent worth.
