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Girlhood is where it begins. Today, it shapes the women who lead.
When we were in nursery, girlhood was sharing that prized crayon from that 64-pack everyone wanted. In grade school, it was playing dodgeball during recess and Chinese garter during lunch. In high school, it was checking each other's skirts to check for tagos. In college, it was talking a friend through her first breakup. Girlhood is a personal experience—yet one we all share through every stage of life.
Girlhood is both the softest and strongest thing all at once. It's your friend holding your hand as she guides you through a jampacked club on a Saturday night—before you both compliment that random girl in the bathroom on her cute outfit. It's texting each other if we got home safe.
Girlhood is as big as publicly challenging unfair policies and sexist comments or becoming the first woman to break barriers in an industry. And yet, it's as simple as commenting fire emojis on your ka-barkada's IG post—as if you didn't just help her choose from the hundreds of photos that you took.
Girlhood is the shared story of our carefree, younger selves, growing into the inspiring community of women who show up for each other today.
Now, we celebrate that very spirit of girlhood through the Cosmopolitan Philippines Women of Influence—a recognition of Filipinas who are leading movements, opening doors, and making an impact in their communities. We honor the ways women redefine success and inspire the next generation to dream bigger.
Our honorees embody the many ways women shape the world today through creativity, innovation, and advocacy. This is girlhood; it isn't just a memory. It evolves with us, shapes who we become, and adds more color to womanhood—just like that cherished crayon you borrowed all those years ago.
Janine Gutierrez is telling stories that aren't just for entertainment, but a force for something bigger. She moves between indie films and mainstream projects with intention, choosing roles that give women depth, ambition, and flaws—never just empty archetypes. From teleseryes that grip primetime TV to independent films that challenge the norm, she brings Filipino stories to life with heart and purpose. But her impact doesn't end when the cameras stop rolling. As a youth ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund, she fights for the landscapes and creatures that make the Philippines home. Janine's craft is more than acting; it's a platform—a mirror reflecting real stories, and a megaphone amplifying voices and causes that deserve to be seen.
This is girlhood for Janine: "Girlhood has always been about a sense of community for me and lifting each other up and being a safe space. I also hope to provide that safe space and be a friend to everyone I encounter—whether it be on social media or through my roles."
AC Bonifacio is a Gen Z force who's making waves as a dancer, singer, and content creator. When people said hip-hop wasn't for girls, she made it her mission to break through, showing the world just how wrong they were. Today, she continues to defy expectations, whether on stage or online. On social media, she's all about authenticity and posting to inspire, but never shies away from standing up for herself when negativity arises. With a mindset that celebrates individuality, she encourages her followers to wear what makes them feel confident, whether it's crop tops or short shorts. For AC, girlhood is about speaking your truth, unapologetically embracing who you are, and empowering others to do the same.
This is girlhood for AC: "Girlhood was what made me feel confident. Girlhood was what made me feel like I'm someone. And now, girlhood is not just your best friend, girlhood is really literally any female out there that you meet. Us now, I just met you but I'm sure if I asked you for a favor, you would do it and vice versa. That's just how girlhood is now, it's so strong and especially online. It's been super strong recently where girls just comment on each other's posts hyping each other up."
Maxine Esteban knows a thing or two about changing the game—both in fencing and in life. She's competed on the world stage for the Philippines, but an injury changed the course of her journey with the national team. Instead of letting it stop her, she found a new path, making history as Côte d'Ivoire's first Olympic fencer. But no matter what flag she carries, Maxine's heart stays tied to home, fighting for Filipino athletes who deserve better support. Through her foundation, she's helping the next generation of fencers get the opportunities they need to shine. And when she's not en-garde, she's defending her Immortal rank in Dota 2. Through every win, loss, and comeback, she proves that girlhood—like the piste—is a place where she writes her own rules.
This is girlhood for Maxine: "Girlhood is defying restrictive gender roles and embracing one's identity beyond labels. Girlhood is about individuality, confidence and resilience—it motivated me to keep going despite all the challenges that I faced."
Mae Layug knows that in beauty, community is everything—whether it's finding the right shade or knowing if a product is worth the hype. As the powerhouse behind Filipino beauty brand GRWM Cosmetics, she built her brand on transparency and trust, never over-promising on product claims. She believes in supporting the beauty community at all levels, from UGC creators to micro-influencers, making space for everyone through events and connections that go beyond beauty. For Mae, buying a product isn't just about makeup—it's about supporting advocacies, women, and animal welfare. And at the end of the day, she sees success as more than just hard work—it's about the community that grows with her.
This is girlhood for Mae: "Girlhood is community. Sometimes, it's not actually the people you're close with or the people you know. But sometimes, these are people na hindi mo nga kilala, but they are supporting you because both of you share the same advocacy."
A fascination with the cockpit turned Chezka Carandang's curiosity into a full-fledged aviation career. Starting as a flight attendant, she worked her way up through years of training and aircraft transitions. As she shares her travels around the world, she makes aviation more accessible for aspiring pilots while showing that skill and commitment to learning—not gender—are what define their profession. What began as a mission to fly passengers safely has evolved into something bigger: inspiring others to chase their dreams fearlessly, free from gendered or heteronormative expectations. For Chezka, the goal is clear: a future where seeing a woman in the cockpit is no longer remarkable, just routine.
This is girlhood for Chezka: "It's about strength, growth, and the unwavering support of other women. Uplifting and celebrating each other's success no matter how big or small. And being there for each other. Being a source of casual support."
As a board-certified nutritionist, Jo Sebastian, knows nutrition isn't just about food—it's about rewriting the way we see health. As a content creator, she's on a mission to break the cycle of restrictive diets and unrealistic body standards, drawing from her own struggles with food and self-image. Through her platform, she champions intuitive eating, dismantles diet myths, and pushes for a more inclusive approach to nutrition. Whether she's debunking trends or advocating for better access to food education, Jo's message is clear: everyone deserves to eat—not just for survival, but for nourishment, confidence, and joy.
This is girlhood for Jo: "Girlhood is about connection. It's about support. It's about learning from other people so that we can become our best versions of ourselves. Sometimes it's positive experiences with other girls and sometimes it's also the adolescence too. It's experiencing life and just experiencing things that will help shape you into a better version of yourself that can now help the future do the same."
Dr. Issa Matibag's mission is to make sexual and reproductive health accessible by breaking barriers and fighting misinformation. As TikTok's "OBGYN On-Call," she tackles taboos, debunking myths about virginity, contraception, and PCOS in bite-sized, easy-to-understand videos. In a country where stigma keeps many women in the dark, she's shining a light on unasked questions, making them empowering, not shameful. Balancing her medical practice with her social media presence is tough, but each message from a woman who feels seen makes it worthwhile. More than offering advice, she's part of the movement for informed choices and better healthcare, giving Filipinas the power to take control of their bodies.
This is girlhood for Dr. Issa: "Girlhood means being able to find the right friendships. It's a community that helps each other through everything. Girlhood is your safe space. Since I cater to female patients, girlhood is serving that community, when it comes to the reproductive and sexual sense."
For sisters Ann and Billie Dumaliang, protecting Masungi Georeserve isn't just about conservation—it's a fight for the future of our environment. As managing trustee and advocacy director, they're leading the charge to restore 2,700 hectares of land while pushing back against land-grabbing and destructive developments. Despite facing attacks, disinformation, and corporate threats, they stay relentless, armed with research, legal action, and education. For Ann and Billie, saving the Earth is not just about preserving landscapes—it's about securing a future where nature and people can thrive together.
This is girlhood for Ann: "It's that constant self-discovery also of finding out your own self and identity and being comfortable with that, and how it evolves through time. Adding to that having that community of support to lift yourself up and be happy in who you are afterwards."
This is girlhood for Billie: "Girlhood to me is that bond between women where you can talk to each other about anything. And all those shared experiences between women, the camaraderie, the company that you give each other, that's irreplaceable."
Charm de Leon, entrepreneur and founder of Ready2Adult PH, is making financial literacy more accessible, especially for young Filipinos. What began as answering friends' money questions grew into engaging video content, where she simplifies budgeting, investing, and even taxes. Even her earliest "business ventures" had a touch of girlhood—charging classmates rental fees for magazines and selling pastillas—so it's no surprise she's now at the helm of multiple businesses. In a world of finance bros and "girl math," Charm is carving out space for women and proving money talk doesn't have to be intimidating. Championing calculated risks over perfection, she's reshaping the conversations, and helping young Filipinos take charge of their future with confidence.
This is girlhood for Charm: "It's something I thought would be a hindrance, because a lot of the positions in the industries that I'm involved in are heavily men. Businessmen and finance men, etc. But I'm so thankful that it has become an asset, na it's my edge, so it's very empowering."
With Pat Lasaten on keys and Agnes Reoma on bass, this powerhouse musical duo helped shape Ben&Ben's signature sound. But beyond the stage, they've become voices for representation, safe spaces, and living your truth. As proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community, the newlyweds have used their platform to show that love—especially queer love—deserves to be seen and celebrated. From starring in Ben&Ben's "Paninindigan Kita" music video to sharing their own coming-out journeys, they've helped spark conversations about identity and acceptance. More than making music, they're making space—proving that the industry (and the world) is better when everyone gets to be their true selves.
This is girlhood for Pat: "Girlhood for me [is] not caring about what others would think. Basta ako masaya ako, that's what I would recall."
This is girlhood for Agnes: "Na-feel ko yung girlhood when we were living together nung band kasi nagkaroon ng "Girls' Room." I mean, the whole band is close, pero dun ko na-feel na there really are things that only girls understand. Dun ko na-feel na, 'Ah, close ako sa mga 'to. You got me. We got you.'"
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PHOTOGRAPHER: Miggy Brono, assisted by Maria Mikhaella Fungo; BJ Pascual (for Janine); and Lena Nugent (for Maxine Esteban)
FINAL ARTIST: Miggy Brono
ART DIRECTOR: Ica Del Mundo, assisted by Bea Bognot and Bea Malonzo
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Ida Aldana
PRODUCER: Alyana Olivar
MAKEUP: Jazthine Manaloto, Anthea Bueno (for Janine), Angeline Dela Cruz (for AC), Team Muriel Vega Paz (for Issa)
HAIR: Nikko Bruel, Jay Aquino (for Janine), Cristine Benoman (for AC), Team Muriel Vega Paz (for Issa)
STYLING: MJ Benitez, assisted by Laiza Dionisio (for Janine); and Ica Villanueva (for AC)
STORY: Ida Aldana
VIDEO: Cherrie Julian, Jino Del Mundo, and Olan Pingco
SOCIAL MEDIA: Aina Lizarondo, assisted by Elsa Macanilao
