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The battle for double taps on social media can be tough, much more so if you’re a celebrity. Amidst the sea of flawless ‘fits and sculpted bodies, standing out when everyone else looks picture-perfect can be a tall order.
But this doesn't apply to Chie Filomeno. Although not new to the public eye, the actress and dancer’s fate as social media queen was sealed after the most unlikely thing—her passport photo—catapulted her to online stardom.
But really, who goes viral for a passport photo? (Chie, obviously). Yet it’s exactly the fact that people find something to be awestruck at something as mundane as a travel document requirement that proves the celebrity is a bonafide head-turner. Just ask her four million followers on Instagram, who constantly stay glued to her updates and feeds, filled with her glamorous OOTDs, and yes—a near-endless scroll of swimsuit photos.
Chie is wearing a jacket and skirt by Calvin Klein and jewelry by B.O.G Fine Jewelry; she is also holding lingerie by Love, Nicole
So what exactly prompted Chie to ace the passport photo? Nothing, really — she just wanted to look good in a document that would last her for 10 years. “Sa passport photo ko, 10 years na diba. Sabi ko, ‘fudge 10 years to.’ So dapat magpa-Khloe Kardashian tayo, nagdala pa ng ring light,” she animatedly narrates to Cosmopolitan Philippines. Chie shares that she texted her go-to hairstylist, Aries Manal, to check on his availability for the unusual gig. So unconventional it was that her hairstylist thought she was joking.
“Cut to the next day. ‘Mhie, ano meron?’ ‘Passport photo nga, mhie’. ‘Shutacca, totoo pala!’” She shares their hilarious conversation. Chie did her own makeup while Aries worked on her hair, and the rest was history.
Aside from her aesthetically pleasing photos, Chie carries herself with little to no filter—something that many are apparently surprised to learn about the celeb. And she does this with little trepidation, unafraid of how others will perceive her. And that no-holds-barred authenticity is what makes Chie Filomeno stand out from the rest.
So refreshing is Chie’s unabashed honesty that she has mastered the art of being unbothered, especially on social media. Even with a toned physique, the celeb is no stranger to all kinds of hate on her posts. And she’s seen it all, from the slut-shaming on her swimsuit pics to making fun of her petite figure. “With social media kasi, siguro, I’m really comfortable with my body rin,” she reflects, a true queen who gives no f*cks about people’s opinions of her.
“I want to be an image to those petite girls that it’s ok to have this kind of body. Alam ko parati tayo sinasabihan na, ‘Kumain ka nga.’ We eat. We really do. Alam ko nalulungkot sila ’pag nasasabihan sila noon so I want to be an image to them that it’s ok to look like this, it’s ok to look a certain way,” she adds.
The celeb caveats that if there is something one would like to change about herself, she’s all for it if it will bring happiness. And yes, she’s talking about going under the knife. “As long as wala kang tinatapakan na tao, then you’re good,” she shares.
Chie, who has gone through procedures herself, has always been admirably outspoken about cosmetic enhancements on social media — considering the industry continues to grapple between unrealistic beauty standards and the stigma of retoke.
As to why she chose to come clean, she quips, “Ayoko magsinungaling.”
Chie is wearing lingerie by Fendi, a skirt by Chris Nick, and jewelry by B.O.G Fine Jewelry
“[Ayoko na] tatanungin ako, ‘May gawa ba sa’yo?’ tapos sasabihin kong hindi na halata naman na meron,” she expresses candidly, lamenting over the fact that the public expects celebrities to look perfect but are quick to judge when they have something done. “Unfair na ganun ‘yung treatment sa atin. Sa ibang bansa, especially in Korea, accepted siya. Pero dito, hindi. So I want to stand for those na nagpagawa dito sa Philippines. It’s ok to do that kasi wala namang tinatapakang tao,” Chie contends.
That said, the celebrity is quick to not be prescriptive about how one should go about beauty — only that choices should be made available to those who seek it. “Kung anong ikakasaya mo, kung magiging confident ka doon, go do it. I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do [or] it’s what you should do. But as long as you’re happy, pera mo yan ‘teh. Go do it.”
And for those who continue to be judgy, Chie has some wise words: “‘Wag na tayo mangialam ng kung anong magpapasaya sa ibang tao! Hindi lang celebrities ha. [Even to] everyday people. And I’m happy na finally, nagiging progressive tayo sa area na ‘yun. But hindi talaga mawawala yung mga taong mahilig mag-judge. Madaming sinasabi. Malungkot ang buhay nila.”
With radical takes, one wonders how Chie handles haters. “I don’t,” she quips with such confidence, all that’s missing is a hair flip.
“At first mabo-bother ka, pero kasi wala eh. Sasayangin mo lang yung energy mo. Just conserve your energy, bigay mo sa mga taong naniniwala sayo,” she explains.
Chie’s authenticity also extends to who she is behind the scenes. “Hindi lahat alam na breadwinner ako. So meron talaga akong caring side. Hindi lang halata,” she shares, adding that she’s usually pigeonholed as giving “rich girl” or sosy vibes because of her roles. “Pero koboy ako eh. Kahit saan mo ako dalhin ok lang. Kung saan makakatipid, ok lang din. So ‘yun yung real Chie. Kalog. Very kalog. Easy to get along with, and marunong ako makisama sa tao.”
Chie admits that being a breadwinner is very fulfilling for her, sharing that seeing her parents and her brother happy is worth it, no matter how tired she gets. “Pag feeling ko sobrang pagod na pagod ako, iisipin ko lang na, ‘bakit ko sinimulan to?’ It’s for them. Hindi siya utang na loob, but it’s something that I’d like to give back to them kasi all their life, ang dami nilang sinacrifice. So I think it’s time na ako naman mag-sacrifice for them and my brother,” she explains.
Chie is wearing lingerie by Love, Nicole, pants by Calvin Klein, and jewelry by B.O.G Fine Jewelry
Other than her passport photo, the former cosplayer is perhaps best known for being part of GirlTrends, the former girl group that was a mainstay on It’s Showtime. Yet Chie, ever so comfortable in her own skin, is readily turning a new chapter in her life and career.
One such milestone? Being cast alongside Kathryn Bernardo and Golden Globe-nominated Dolly de Leon in the upcoming dark comedy film A Very Good Girl, directed by Petersen Vargas. Chie is pleasantly learning new things along the way—including the fact that she apparently has comedic chops. “‘Eto kasi yung first time ko na mag-comedy talaga. And ‘di ko in-expect na may comedic timing pala ako according to everyone from the set. Sabi nila, ‘Ay t**g ina Chie, tawang tawa kami sayo.’ So natimpla ko yung gusto nila. Kasi may certain gusto silang quality sa character. So I studied my character really well, siyempre I wanna deliver also, katrabaho natin si Kathryn and Ms. Dolly and Direk Petersen,” she explains.
For one, Chie is excited to finally venture out of her comfort zone, describing her role as a stark departure from previous characters she’s portrayed before. She hopes it would open the door to other roles and genres — a dream role of hers would be something similar to Angelina Jolie’s characters in Wanted or Salt. She’d also love to try her hand at a Fault in Our Stars-esque movie, should she venture into drama.
Chie describes this time of her life as a new era, where she’s just “bettering myself, honing my craft, [I’m] not afraid to make mistakes,” adding that she feels happy and content.
And what of her love life? Despite the buzz surrounding who she’s possibly dating, Chie says she’s “single but happy.”
“I’m enjoying my me time. You don’t need to be in a relationship to be happy,” she says, adding that she’s figuring out what she wants out of life before investing herself in a relationship. “A relationship for me is an investment. ‘Yung gusto ko sa tao na paglalaanan ko, ‘yun na ‘yun. Kasi we’re not getting any younger, so invest wisely.”
One thing she’s learned about her past relationships is to not give her all, and leave some for herself. “‘Wag kang maubos. Ok lang na pagdaanan mo, but ‘wag mo ulit-ulitin. Kasi ‘pag naubos ka, hindi ka na maniniwala sa love eh. ‘Di ka maniniwala na may magmamahal sayo, which is meron naman talaga. Siguro there is a reason na napagdaanan mo ‘yun para sa next relationship, para alam mo kung ano gagawin, ano hindi gagawin. In God’s perfect time, you’ll find yung aalagaan mo at aalagaan ka,” she believes.
Chie is wearing lingerie by Fendi, a shirt and pants by Calvin Klein, and jewelry by B.O.G Fine Jewelry
As for now, she’s enjoying singlehood and loving herself more. “With singlehood, just enjoy it. Doon mo rin mahahanap yung confidence mo, ‘pag naging single ka.”
For now, Chie has some things she’d like ticked off the bucket list, such as buying a house for herself, and another one for her parents. And she’d love to snag a Best Actress award.
Chie has set her sights on the next phase of her life and career with laser focus, and believes this is they key to shining in her own skin. “You have to know what you really want in life. And trial and error din ‘yan eh. ‘Di mo naman makukuha ‘yan agad, hindi naman tayo lahat born confident eh. You should [learn how to] love yourself… Dirediretcho na ‘yun, domino effect,” she states.
And if there’s anything we’ve learned, Chie lives by her own rules—and owns her own playbook to success.
PRODUCED BY: Andie Estella
ASSISTED BY: Ira Nopuente, Cass Lazaro
PHOTOGRAPHY: Kenneth Tangonan, assisted by Miguel Famularcano
ART DIRECTION: Bacs Arcebal, Pau Moyano
SET STYLING: Matthew Filart
STYLING: Steph Aparici and Rohan Oncada
MAKEUP BY: Jyka Espinoza, assisted by Julia San Pedro
HAIR BY: Mark Rosales
NAILS BY: Extraordinail
WORDS BY: Sam Beltran
