NPC Seal of Registration
Cosmo.ph has been granted the NPC Seal of Registration in recognition of the successful registration of its DPO and DPS
You’ve probably seen her shop designer items with Heart Evangelista, do some style swapping with Nadine Lustre, teach dance moves to Sarah Geronimo, or duet with Jose Mari Chan. Make no mistake though — Mimiyuuuh’s no celebrity sidekick. She’s her own superstar.
The unassuming vlogger rakes in hundreds of thousands of views on her Youtube account (4.4 million subscribers!), and millions of engagement in her social media pages, yet she stays grounded, much like her 22-year-old self dancing to the ‘Kahit Ayaw Mo Na Challenge,’ with the iconic pink Orocan cabinet as backdrop.
“Sobrang mind-blown pa rin po ako na yung sobrang wide po ng reach ng nanonood sa akin. I think, it's the genuineness po yung nakikita nila sa screen,” Mimiyuuuh tells Cosmopolitan Philippines.
She’s a ball of energy, in reel and real life — and it’s not due to the two cups of white mocha she usually consumes. Into the fifth hour of her shoot for the Cosmopolitan Pride cover, Mimiyuuuh belts out a song in her signature vibrato while balancing on a pole and embracing her cover girl era. It’s this authenticity and vigor that brought her fame and quite the fortune. From her first vlog published in February 2019, the Fashion Design graduate of De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde in Manila has shown viewers that she’s not in search of perfection, and she wants us to embrace our own flaws.
Mimiyuuuh is wearing a Glitter Glow cocktail dress by CHAMLIE and jewelry by B.O.G Fine Jewelry
Her signature bangs and kayumanggi complexion make her endearing and relatable to millions of Filipinos online and offline. Mean comments will always be there, but Mimiyuuuh is unfazed because she is confident in her own skin.
“As in, binabash nila akong based sa physical appearance ko. Which is parang, eh ano naman, ‘diba? Kung tanggap ko ‘yung sarili ko, kung tanggap ako ng family ko, wala naman akong dapat i-prove sa kanila. ‘Tsaka, I think yung mga taong nag-hate online, sila yung mga walang trabaho. It's just so sad. Feeling ko sad din sila. Kaya ganon sila. So, I just try to understand,” Mimiyuuuh says.
Mimiyuuuh’s self-deprecating humor, often in touch with reality, makes her a brand favorite. She’s trendy but not controversial, and can easily switch from being a red carpet host to a TikTok dance icon. Her motivationals featuring her unflattering angles hog Monday headlines, and her rare political commentaries usually ruffle feathers.
Despite her popularity and influence, Mimi knows she was brought here not only for her personal gain. Now, she’s not just that popular “it’s your girl” whose iconic voice is a favorite download in the Philippine version of Waze, guiding stressed Filipino drivers in the hellish everyday Manila traffic. She’s ready to use that voice for more pressing issues, for thousands of queers who are looking for representation and inclusion.
Mimiyuuuh is openly gay but it took her and her family several years to embrace this. That long journey to acceptance is a norm in the Philippines, where archaic beliefs surrounding gender, family, tradition, and religion often perpetuate prejudice against members of the LGBTQIA community.
“Five years old pa lang pa ako, alam ko na po talaga na bading ako. So parang ang icon ko pa po, ay Sailor Moon. Sobrang love ko po. The boots and the eyebrows. Sobrang love ko po Sailor Moon. Ito pa nakakatawa, sabay po namin pinapanood ‘yun, ako at tatay ko. Tapos parang di siya nakaramdam na bading ako. Nakakatawa po,” Mimiyuuuh recalls.
While she has always been perky, there were times she needed to “act straight,” especially during her years in a Catholic school. “Malambot na po talaga ako. Parang gusto ko parati akong leader ng mga sayaw-sayaw. Pero noong high school po ako, since nag-Catholic school po ako, parang medyo tinry ko po na magpaka-straight. Ganun na, ‘ah hindi ko bading ha,’” says Mimiyuuuh. “Actually, nung elementary po ako, I (pretended that) may crush ako sa babae just for the sake na hindi nila ako matawag na bading. Sobrang insecure po ako,” she adds.
This fear of ridicule and rejection does not happen only in schools. Data from the United Nations Development Programme shows that discrimination against the LGBTQIA community waltzes its way into the workplace. In the Philippines, a whopping 21 percent believed they were shown the door during job interviews simply because of their sexual orientation. The same study highlighted that several poll participants stumbled upon job advertisements that explicitly excluded them based on their Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE).
Prejudice in the workplace is often reported, and study participants remember being subjects of jokes or gossip, or getting judged because of their wardrobe, behavior, or manner of speech. It's a hodgepodge of discrimination, all playing out under the guise of "normal" workplace banter. These scenarios push LGBTQIA individuals to protect their authentic selves or seek more achievements, in the name of inclusivity.
Mimiyuuuh is wearing a Pearla Shawl top and soft lounge long-sleeved dress by La Glamour Queen and jewelry by B.O.G Fine Jewelry
And this is exactly what Mimiyuuuh would like to challenge; you don’t have to excel at everything in life just to be accepted by your own family, friends, and community. “Nagkaroon po ng stereotype yung mga tao na, ah, kapag bading ka, dapat successful ka. And now I want to show people na, parang normal na po makakita ng bading na femme, na makulit, na madaldal, na magalaw. Na, ‘ay okay lang pala maging bading na ganito eh, kasi kung si Mimi nga naging successful in her own way, eh kaya ko rin in my own way,” she said. “Alam niyo po, based sa social context, okay lang naman na hindi maging perfect. Basta maging ikaw,” she adds.
Mimiyuuuh is also determined to shatter stereotypes. Her mission is clear: to create a world where diversity is celebrated, and everyone can shine brightly without fear of judgment or limitation.
“So ako po, sobrang proud po ako and at the same time, sobrang thankful po ako na na-appreciate po ng mga tao, yung mga part ng community. And especially po now na, alam nyo po, diba dati po, parang pinagtatawan na kapag bading ka, dapat fun ka. Ngayon hindi na po. Ang nakakatuwa kasi, parang meron na po na mga doctors na sobrang visible po sila. Meron din po mga lawyers. They are all proudly (out) na po. And that really matters po talaga…na okay lang na hindi ka maging funny dahil lang bading ka,” Mimiyuuuh says.
As a fashion designer, she also hopes to encourage conversations on finding your own style, and to dress up how you like it. “Naniniwala rin po ako na sobrang genderless po ng mga clothes. If you want to wear a skirt kahit po ikaw ay straight na lalaki, just do it. And ‘yung mga sabi ng iba't-ibang tao, ‘yan yung mga dapat hindi mo intindihin. Dapat sarili mo muna iniintindi mo. Like, if this will make me more confident, then I'll do it,” shares Mimiyuuuh.
Mimiyuuuh hopes her newfound fame will pave the way for more representation. Among her legion of fans, Mimiyuuuh likes it best when kids walk up to her to ask for photos.
“Very happy po, especially yung pag may nagpapa-picture po sa'kin mga bata. Hindi ko po sila matanggihan. Siguro po, nung bata po ako, parang hindi po ako sobrang expressive po sa mga gusto ko po and now na nakikita po yung mga bata na, sobrang they are free to express yung mga na-feel nila. At yun po natutuwa po ako kasi parang yung mga kalokohan ko, appreciated siya ng mga bata,” Mimiyuuuh reveals.
Growing up, Mimiyuuuh said she remembers only watching Roderick Paulate in mainstream media. Today, she is happy to share the limelight with dozens of vloggers and celebrities, in hopes that queer representation will forge the path for greater visibility and understanding, and bring about respect for diversity. She looks forward to a collaboration with TV host and multimedia star Vice Ganda. She also plans to use her social media platforms to equip her followers with the necessary knowledge and skills in navigating the complexities of adult life.
Mimiyuuuh is wearing a white long-sleeved button down with side closure and necktie by ANTONINA SS22 and jewelry by B.O.G Fine Jewelry
“Unlike po before, sobrang puro kalokohan lang po talaga yung mga sinishare ko. And now na parang mas naging wiser na rin po ako. And mas naging mature. ‘Yung may nai-share na po akong knowledge. Sana po, opo sa aking subscribers. And sobrang adulting era ko na po ngayon,” the vlogger shared.
Recent vlog uploads show Mimiyuuuh buying a P5.29 million Jeep Wrangler or buying and renovating their family home, and treating her family to trips. She’s not flexing the good life, and her followers know. She’s sharing these details as a giddy young achiever, hoping to inspire people who are wishing for the same luck.
Down the road, Mimiyuuuh looks forward to a more stable life, one that’s still spent with her family. In ten years she will probably be directing a movie, designing clothes for her clients, be an established business woman, and acquire more investments.
“I may not be the best, but I will do my best. Ganon. Gusto kong maging landlord, parang ganon! Yan ang the best. Yes, gusto ko talaga ng landlord kasi nga po, na-experience ko dati po yung pinapaalis kami ng house. So ako naman, gusto ko, ako naman yung nagpapaalis,” Mimiyuuuh says in jest.
Mimiyuuuh’s humor and wit has inspired many, and continue to bring joy to her fans. But after spending a day with her, we see that she’s a gift to the community, painting the world with her unique shades of fabulous. She’s a much-needed glittering LGBTQIA icon who can smash through barriers. Most of all, she reminds us that in a world desperately craving genuine expression, we have the power to rewrite the narrative, one sassy dance step and curly voice at a time.
PRODUCED BY: Ira Nopuente, Andie Estella
CO-PRODUCED BY: Patricia Melliza
ASSISTED BY: Cass Lazaro
PHOTOGRAPHY: Andrea Genota, assisted by Ennuh Tiu
ART DIRECTION: Bacs Arcebal, Pau Moyano
SET STYLING: Matthew Filart
STYLING: Steph Aparici and Shyla Ngo
MAKEUP BY: Janell Capuchino
HAIR BY: Jay Wee
NAILS BY: Extraordinail
WORDS BY: Thea Masakayan
