At just 19, Guerrero has built a career collaborating with a range of local and international artists. LOUIS VUITTON jacket. Photographed by Geric Cruz
Between growing up on social media, managing her personal brand, and collaborating with high-profile personalities, the 19-year-old dancer and content creator admits that she’s “still figuring it out,” and enjoying the process.
Niana Guerrero would rather dance. And she does, effortlessly, between takes during her Vogue Spotlight shoot. In the quiet pauses of the day, it’s almost instinctive: a quick step here, a spin there, as if an invisible eight-count echoes constantly in the young dancer’s mind. At just 19, Guerrero has built a career collaborating with a range of local and international artists, including Lisa, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, and, most recently, BTS’s J-Hope for his Hope on the Stage concert in Manila. Yet despite her star-studded resume, Guerrero names her favorite collaborators closer to home.
Growing up online, Guerrero was introduced to the public through videos with her brother, fellow dancer Ranz Kyle. Over time, their younger sister, Natalia, joined in, and the Guerrero siblings’ shared love for movement became a natural bond. “They both just get me when it comes to dancing,” Guerrero says. Of Ranz, she shares an admiration for his out-of-the-box creativity: “I like how he thinks of ideas that I couldn’t even imagine.” As for Natalia, it’s her ease and self-assurance that Niana finds inspiring. “She doesn’t really care if there’s a camera or not, she dances because she loves to.”
Family has always been at the center of Guerrero’s story. Their home life, glimpsed through countless videos, is filled with spontaneous moments, many of them too candid to ever be captured on film. “My dad once tried doing a bit of footwork from my choreography,” she recalls, laughing. “‘Is this good?’ he asked, and then just started doing it!” It’s the casual, everyday moments, such as sharing meals and dancing for fun, that anchor her in a world that’s otherwise fast-paced.
Now a self-described dance and lifestyle creator, Guerrero is conscious of the space she occupies online. “I’ve realized people connect more when you’re just real. Not everything has to be on-trend or perfect,” she says. “Staying true to what I love, how I dress, and what I create has helped me build something that feels natural, not forced.” This is why she also emphasizes the importance of boundaries. “Despite growing up in the public eye, I’ve learned to keep a good balance of what’s out there and cherish my privacy at the same time.”
With over 45 million followers on TikTok, the most of any content creator in the Philippines, Guerrero recognizes the scale of her platform, even if she doesn’t let it define her. “Social media is a big part of my life, but it’s not all of it,” she says. “Success isn’t just about big numbers. It’s about being happy with what you’re doing and who you are.”
The enjoyment she derives from her content creation career is evident. She admits that she still gets starstruck meeting all of her collaborators. “It’s because I used to listen to these people’s songs, look up to them from the internet, and watch their concerts, and to be able to dance with them and create content is amazing and unbelievable,” she says. It’s every fan girl’s dream to be noticed by, let alone work with, her favorite artists.
In April, Guerrero was invited for a surprise onstage appearance at artist d4vd’s Coachella set. In the comments section of her video of the performance, users gave largely positive remarks. “Nothing to do with luck, she’s truly talented and this is her time to shine,” one comment said. “So happy to see you experiencing amazing moments and achieving many goals, hope life always stays bright for you, Niana,” said another.
Amidst the flurry of fame, fandom, and festivals, Guerrero tries her best to keep it professional. “Whenever I do collabs, I always come in with an open mind. It’s fun when all ideas come together. It’s nice when you know when to lead and when to listen.”
She is also learning to be patient with herself. “Sometimes I think I’m behind or not doing enough,” she says. “But everyone has their own pace. No need to rush.” Looking ahead, Guerrero hopes to keep growing: “I want to explore the world, meet new people, and try things that scare me, because that’s part of growing up.”
As the shoot wraps, someone moves the interview chair out of frame. Guerrero smiles, energized. “I can dance for you guys, if you want,” she offers, unprompted. “That would be so much better.”
By CELINE LAGUNDI. Photographs by GERIC CRUZ. Video directed and edited by LORENZO CORRO. Media Channels Editor ANZ HIZON. Digital Associate Editor CHELSEA SARABIA. Styling by Anz Hizon and Chelsea Sarabia. Makeup: Miz Raffy. Hair: Gab Villegas. Producer: Bianca Zaragoza. Final artist: Bea Lu. Retouch: Grace Sioson. Digital multimedia artist: Myc Priestley. Photographer’s assistant: Karlo Baylon. Video assistants: Heinrich Torres, Angelo Tiu. Shot on location at The Villa Studios.
