Tabla de contenidos para July 2022 en MEGA

Ever since its inception, MEGA prides itself in discovering young talents and giving them a platform to showcase their points of view and what they stand for. This month is a testament to that as we highlight first-time MEGA cover star Ria Atayde. Not much is known about the actress aside from the fact that showbiz runs in her blood. Her mother, award-winning actress Sylvia Sanchez is a household name, as well as her brother, actor, Congressman Arjo Atayde. With a string of notable projects, Ria is one to watch for, not only because of her honest and fresh portrayals, but more importantly, what she represents. For our body issue, Ria is the perfect subject—bold, beautiful, brave, and comfortable in her own skin— posing in front of the camera and…

Conscious, ethical, sustainable—the brands with good intentions and unique creations are those that withstand the test of time and fashion. With ready-to-wear pieces backed by low impact production and social responsibility, NIñOFRANCO, Back Beat Co., and Fifth Code are on-the-rise brands to watch for. 1 NIñOFRANCO Creative director Wilson Limon’s undergraduate thesis reinvented the traditional garment of the Bagobo Tagabawa tribe. This led to a collection that reflected the rich culture of the Bagobo Tagabawa using technology in contemporary ensembles. Today, Limon’s own brand NIñOFRANCO fuses modern fashion with Mindanao heritage, formed by the various ethnolinguistic communities in the region. “Bringing our roots and heritage to a societal integration in this modern time through fashion has been NIñOFRANCO’s lifelong vision,” says Limon. “We envision transforming a western minded Philippines into…

The definition of a woman’s body is always changing, but what was once limited only to descriptors such as slim and delicate has now been more diversified. In Feature Story, we talk to four women who revel in their bodies’ power to run, dance, lift, bear children, and heal themselves. A good body is also not only defined by pure physicality. Today, many people are strengthening their bodies through connections to the mind and soul—whether it’s through disconnecting from others to be in better shape or grounding themselves in nature. In People, meet Siargao-based French photographer Camille Robiou du Pont, who uses her art of underwater photography to inspire others to liberate themselves by connecting to the space around them. Whatever age, whatever abilities, and whatever shape, there’s a new…

Photography is, a lot of times, about studying and capturing light in ways that can communicate an idea or emotion. For French-born underwater photographer Camille Robiou du Pont, her light plays better with water, specifically women in water. THROUGH HER EYES Camille has been living in Asia since 2012, and spent four years in China, before she decided to relocate to the Philippines. A surfer herself, she naturally fell in love with the lifestyle and culture of Siargao island, in the province of Surigao del Norte, one of the most popular surfing spots in the country. “I got completely depressed by the city life,” Camille tells MEGA in an email interview. “And I felt my soul was fading from the pollution and lack of nature. I promised myself I’d live…

The struggle to create an inclusive, diverse world doesn’t end in one grand act alone. In the constant pursuit of toppling society’s most typical standards of fashion and beauty, Ria Atayde is an eloquent, unfazed, and forthright figure of a woman who is persistent in understanding self-worth. The catalyst to a major shift in her life? Knowing when to say no. And with fashion’s unpredictable, subjective, and personal nature, there’s really no telling what fixed criterion to match up to—it’s a matter of learning (or perhaps, unlearning) the different versions of yourself present between the layers, behind the silhouettes, and underneath all forms.…

Time isn’t running out, at least for now. Two years ago, we were scrambling on our feet to keep our routines, or more accurately, our lives, in place. But today, we’ve finally learned how to follow a pace that doesn’t require more than what we can offer—we now enter an easy, uncompromising stillness that was once rare to come by.…

Beauty and body standards have evolved over time, and we’ve seen changes in what is considered or defined as beautiful. As the rest of the world becomes more accessible through digital advancements, we too become more open and informed about the vast beauty that surrounds us. This, in turn, opens our eyes to each individual’s unique differences and allows us to accept and celebrate them. In MEGA, we always try to celebrate women. Over the years, we’ve produced countless stories and dedicated features about what makes women great and beautiful—whether it’s their bodies, strength, or beauty. We’ve put the spotlight on different women who come from different backgrounds, age, and even life stages. We are adamant about our message that there is no one size that fits all—and definitely there…

We’re past the midway point of 2022, and one thing has become clear: this year’s fashion is all about the drama. From so-called “serotonin dressing” to the prevalence of ultra-glam fabrics, like chainmail and sequins, the style-obsessed are going all out. And yes, that includes choosing the most in-your-face shoe trend of all: platform heels. This bold and sky-high trend kicked off with Versace showing a selection of colorful satin and leather versions on the runway at their Fall/ Winter 2021 show. The shoes were immediately worn in real life by international singers Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande, and then other brands like Valentino followed suit with similar options. Before long, just about every footwear brand was including platforms in their collections, and celebrities could not stop wearing them, either.…

Once upon a time, not too long ago, the runways, pages of magazines, and store windows only showed one kind of body: tall, slim, abled, and young. It’s a beautiful figure, but it isn’t more beautiful than those that are on the opposite, or on different sides. We have all experienced our fair share of moments where we compare ourselves to other people or to images we’ve seen online, and end up despising the body we’re in. But it’s important to remember that like our hair and skin, no two bodies are exactly the same and the uniqueness of each one makes us beautiful. Thankfully, the long-needed shift toward body positivity is happening, and we are now experiencing one of the biggest movements in self-love. In fashion, midriff and low-slung…

In an increasingly isolated and digitally engaged world, we all need to shape real connections now more than ever. Learn from digital creator Jaz Reyez in Beauty Blog about how she’s using the world wide web to exchange not only information but also emotion. Since we don’t always know what to do next, whether it’s with our career, relationships, or in life, it’s important to have a beauty routine that naturally flows from one step to the next. Start with the likes of the skincare tools found in Hot & Fresh that can help you maintain clinic-quality treatment at home. Next, let yourself sink into a trance-like state as you effortlessly blend the foundation and tints found in Tried & Tested that act as an extension to your skincare routine.…

ABOUT FACE “Aside from offering an instant healthy glow, the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation (P2950) has skin-centric ingredients, like raspberry, apple, and watermelon extracts to help improve the complexion over time. It’s lightweight but still able to deliver medium to full coverage depending on how you build it. And best of all, it’s resistant to oxidation, making it easy to effortlessly blend across the skin and leave nothing but a glass-like finish even if I missed a step or two in my actual skincare routine.” PEEWEE REYES-ISIDRO, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DOUBLE DUTY “CERAVE Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Sheer Tint (P1350) was probably made by the heavens for someone like me, who likes to wear as little product on her face as possible—I have uber-sensitive skin. Get this: Holy Grail of…

How does life marry fashion? And how do they become a match made in heaven? This month is about meaningful links and purposeful impact. It’s the era for Fifth Code, Niñofranco, and Back Beat Co. as they become the next brands to look into for pieces that are crafted with thought, style, and good intentions. Take this issue, too, as an invitation to strut the streets in this season’s platform heels must-haves and Balenciaga’s hottest items to date. This is the core of today’s fashion: relational, pensive, and transcendent.…

FEATURE STORY: DISCONNECTING There’s an unmistakable beauty that comes with being able to do even the once-unimaginable things in just a few swipes or taps on our phones. Now, we have the capability to order the most fascinating pieces of clothing to add to our collection, pitch a breathtaking concept for a client’s next campaign, and create an intricate work of art from scratch. The possibilities are endless, which makes us think we have to always be on our phones to keep up with the times and not miss out on anything we may or may not even be interested in. But that should not be the case. While there’s a sense of beauty in being connected all the time, there’s also beauty in disconnecting, as well. The idea of…

1 POWER TOOLS Global fashion darling Heart Evangelista doesn’t only know her way around luxurious style but also gets it right (all the time) when it comes to skincare and makeup. Ready to share all her beauty secrets to the world, she launched her very own brand, LUXELLE, which focuses on making cutting-edge skincare products and gadgets accessible. Do you want to know how she maintains her curled, fluttery, long lashes? She uses the brand’s Heated Eyelash Curler (P2100), which she admits is one of her favorites. To achieve sculpted cheekbones, they also have an RF Beauty Wand (P8400), a noninvasive skin tightening and lifting tool that uses advanced radio frequencies to activate collagen production and improve overall skin texture. You might have even seen in Evangelista’s travel vlogs how…

BEAUTY BLOG From YouTube to TikTok to Instagram, we are currently living in a world where anyone at any time can create a viral post that can instantly appear on everyone’s phone. One comment and one follow later, these content creators can gain a powerful influence over society. While it’s easy to get hooked on the many faces and personalities of the new generation who are dominating the Internet, there is one who is a cut above the rest: that is Jaz Reyes. Cheerful, charming, and gifted with limitless creativity, Reyes has become one of the most recognized faces on the Internet, and she is showing no signs of slowing down. Many would recognize her as a host and a radio DJ, but users of the web love her due…

Even in the best of times, style truly reigns supreme with warm textures, and lots of sexy, essential sports luxe elements. There’s also a bit of kitsch and fun coming in via the continued Y2K revival, and a renewed interest in deconstructed denim and strange layering. If the past is anything to go on, these clothes will be the backbone of our best wardrobe choices, accented by the sure to be big, crazy, and eccentric ideas from the Fall 2022 runways in the coming months.…