BINI's Aiah Arceta on Growing in Glamour and Grit
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For BINI’s Aiah Arceta, Life Is a Balancing Act

Aiah wears a LOUIS VUITTON jacket. Photographed by Renzo Navarro for the November 2024 Issue of Vogue Philippines

Between work schedules, college classes, and personal responsibilities, BINI’s Aiah Arceta is intentional about living a balanced life.

Before she was BINI’s Aiah, she was Cebu’s undefeated beauty queen, Maraiah Queen Arceta. Over three years, she claimed five titles, and with her Miss Silka Philippines 2018 crown, many speculated she might even be headed for Binibining Pilipinas. But it was on the pageant stage that Aiah first dared to sing in public, which came as a surprise even to her family. “My dad was so stressed,” she recalls in a post-coronation interview. Funnily enough, a year later, Aiah got a call offering her a spot in the Star Hunt Academy for the making of a girl group.

Though she often describes her younger self as shy and awkward—a “lone wolf,” as she puts it—there was an earnestness in her that she just couldn’t shake. At 18 years old, she took the leap, leaving home to fly to Manila, where she would find herself in BINI.

The group’s beginnings were humble. Working on a tight budget and limited resources, they built their community over the pandemic through an influx of live streams and self-made content. “While everybody was locked down, we were busy rehearsing, singing, and dancing,” Aiah recalls. Now a P-pop phenomenon, BINI has seen a meteoric rise over the last year, following the success of viral singles “Pantropiko” and “Cherry On Top,” among others. From handing out promotional flyers on the street to selling out a solo tour in mere minutes, the success was sudden, and the adjustment period was not without its challenges.

In the first chapter of their three-part docuseries, Born To Win, Aiah opened up about her struggles with anxiety, stating, “If sharing my experience can help someone, then I’ll do it.” Throughout their career, the BINI girls have been lauded for their candor and willingness to speak out, and while difficult, Aiah takes pride in the opportunity they have to show their authentic selves. “We don’t always get to show that to other people. Most of the time, they just see us on stage—the glamour part of it. It’s a brave step for us,” she shares.

“Sometimes, you just have to have fun in life.”

To care for her mental health, Aiah wills herself to connect with nature and her loved ones. “Lately, I’ve been jogging. And then, if I have extra time, then that’s when I get to go hiking. But also, if I’m just too tired to jog or do something active, I just seek comfort from my friends. A simple sleepover or dinner, then that’s already enough for me.”

When she thinks of rest, her mind drifts to her hometown on the small island of Mactan, Cebu, where the beach is only 20 minutes away from home. On an ideal day, Aiah envisions herself in a sundress, living slow and soaking up sun. While she isn’t able to do that in the city or on tour, as she stays grounded in her work, school, and personal responsibilities, she is intentional about stepping outdoors and integrating fitness into her regular routine. Even after returning from their US-Canada tour, the first thing Aiah did when she got home was go for a run. And, if she hadn’t been on set for Vogue, she’d probably be climbing a mountain somewhere.

When pulled into the conversation of hiking, co-member Mikha laughs, throwing her head in her hands in playful horror. “Who would get up at 6am on their day off?” She teases. Without missing a beat, Aiah beams, “Me!”

Despite the playful jabs from her members, Aiah’s love for fitness has inspired many. Case in point, the Blooms Run Club is a fan-initiated running group for BINI’s fans (called “Blooms”) with scheduled runs every Wednesday. More recently, Aiah crafted a 10-kilometer ‘BINI’ jogging route that starts along McKinley Parkway in Bonifacio Global City and stretches to the borders of the Manila Golf and Country Club, a challenge the BRC gladly undertook.

It’s in little moments like these that Aiah feels she’s truly made it. The influence and the platform they have are not something she takes very lightly, and despite the challenges, it’s clear that Aiah finds joy in her place in BINI. On set, they play like sisters, making jokes, taking silly photos, and laughing so hard it reverberates across the room. “Sometimes, you just have to have fun in life,” she says.

And while the 23-year-old carves out time for herself, the same earnestness remains at her core. “[The success] doesn’t feel real sometimes,” she reflects. “I think we’re really just starting.”

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Vogue Philippines: November 2024 Issue

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By BIANCA CUSTODIO. Cover Story by GABY GLORIA. Photographs by RENZO NAVARRO. Fashion Director PAM QUIÑONES. Beauty Editor JOYCE OREÑA. Fashion Editor DAVID MILAN. Makeup: Carell Garcia, Julius Cabanisas, Mark Qua, Theresa Padin. Hair: Bill Watson and Cherry Reyes of Toni &Guy. Art Director: Jann Pascua. Production Design: Justine Bumanlag. Executive Producer: Anz Hizon. Associate Producer: Bianca Zaragoza. Beauty Writer: Bianca Custodio. Nails: Extraordinail. Digital Associate Editor: Chelsea Sarabia. Digital Content Writer: Daphne Sagun. Multimedia Artist: Tinkerbell Poblete. Photographer’s Assistant: Alexis Wang, Dominic Pamatmat. Stylist’s Assistants: Neil de Guzman, Ticia Almazan. Hair Assistants: Glenda Eugenio, John Al-rey Valencia, Lindsay Agapito, Noel Muncada. Production Design Assistants: Gabrielle Mantala, Geber Cunanan, Jan Abal, Jonel Navarro, Olderico Bondoc. Shot on location at Balara Content Studio.

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