5 Breakout FilAm Models Shaking Things Up In Fashion Right Now

Whether it’s on the runway or on the pages of magazines, it is no secret that Filipinas are among the most beautiful women in the world. Beyond the glitz and glamor of the fashion industry, these 5 fearless Filipino American models have proven to be more than just pretty faces on the scene. Their stories consist of integrity, grit and perseverance, all of which have led them to the remarkable muliti-hyphenate careers that they have today. 

1. Kelsey Merritt 

Before she was recognized globally, Kelsey Merritt started her modeling career at the young age of 15 in Manila, Philippines. Like most teenagers, she felt insecure about several aspects of her life. However, she was able to power through those insecurities and pursue her passion for modeling in full force. At 17 years old, Kelsey’s headshots on Instagram caught the attention of international model agent, Roman Young, who invited her to New York to try her hand at modeling in one of the fashion capitals of the world. 

Kelsey’s dive into the scene was nothing short of a dream. Before she knew it, she had built a remarkable portfolio that consisted of jobs with internationally acclaimed fashion powerhouses like Vera Wang, Uniqlo, H&M, ASOS and Maybelline and could quickly be found on the pages of L'Officiel, Harper's Bazaar, Seventeen and NY Post, to name a few. Kelsey is widely known for making history as the first ever Filipino Model to walk in a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Landing this job catapulted her into the spotlight and launched her career into even greater heights. She walked alongside industry veterans like Candice Swanepoel, Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima, and proudly carried the Philippines on her back while at it.

To this day, Kelsey is a force to be reckoned with. She has built her name to be respected worldwide, with a following of 1.7million followers on Instagram and continuously uses her platform to open up about issues that she has experienced, such as racial ambiguity, her relationship with her body and powering through insecurities that try to tear her down.

Follow Kelsey on Instagram for the latest and greatest!

2. Geena Rocero 

Geena Rocero’s journey into the industry is far from ordinary. As a teenager, growing up in Manila, Philippines, she took part in competing in transgender beauty pageants. Here, she built confidence in herself to own who she was and fearlessly carry herself with grace. At 17 years old, she immigrated to the United States, a move that played a major role in the start of her career. 

When Geena was 21, she was discovered by a fashion photographer in New York City. In the years that followed, Geena quickly rose to popularity in the modeling scene. She booked jobs with Rimmel Cosmetics, Hanes and many other fashion and beauty companies. In addition to this, she has appeared on countless runways in swimsuits and high fashion outfits. The hard work and dedication that she put into mastering her craft helped grab the attention of industry pillars like Harper's BAZAAR, who placed her in their international edition where she was the first trans model to be featured on the cover. Geena made history again when she was announced as one of Playboy’s Playmates of the Year in 2020, which was a yet another first for a transgender woman. 

In 2014, she made the courageous decision to come out during her TED Talk. Her powerful talk quickly went viral and has been viewed more than 4 million times. Since then, she started GenderProud, an advocacy group and production company that sheds light on transgender issues. Geena was also the executive producer of the digital series, "Beautiful As I Want To Be”, which focused on transgender youth. Among her long list of accomplishments lies her talks at the White House during the time of former President Barack Obama, the World Economic Forum, various Fortune 500 companies and the United Nations. With all that she has done and all that she is doing, she has been deemed an inspiration to many, including the one and only Caitlyn Jenner, who featured Geena on her show, “I Am Cait”. 

Keep up with all things Geena by following her on Instragram.

3. Sharina Gutierrez

From the young age of 12 years old, Sharina Gutierrez dominated the international modeling scene. She signed with International Models and Talent (IMTA), the same agency that managed Hollywood stars like Ashton Kutcher and Eva Longoria. Her first ever job was an editorial in Italian Vogue with Michel Comte, something seasoned models spend their entire careers trying to achieve. In her early years, she went on to model children’s wear for United Colors of Benetton and Levi's. 

Throughout her career, Sharina has been featured in over 23 magazines and worked with over 41 bands, including industry powerhouses like Phillip Lim, Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. She has also been featured in two music videos, with Chris Brown and Tyga, and has appeared in campaigns alongside Gigi Hadid and Ariana Grande. Sharina’s career has brought her into the spotlight in countries all over the world. However, at 20 years old, at the height of her career as the industry’s go-to Asian model, her life took an unexpected turn into motherhood. The fast paced lifestyle that she had grown accustomed to in the modeling world was quickly put to a halt as she took on another journey as a mom to her son, Mason. She was forced into a one year break to adjust to her new lifestyle. But before she knew it, she was back on the scene. 

At 23 years old, she was contacted by creative director, Audie Umali, who helped her book a job with Rimmel London. This made her the first Filipino American model to shoot with the respected brand. She now balances motherhood and modeling, even booking jobs with her entire family for brands like Target, Old Navy and Kohls. Sharina enjoys using her platform to talk about what she is passionate about, like overcoming depression, connecting with her culture and empowering young women to tap into their own potential and live their best lives. 

Follow Sharina on Instagram to watch her continuous evolution!

4. Marizza Delgado 

Marizza Delgado is an engineer, fashion model, beauty queen, and advocate for Women in STEM. Her journey into the spotlight started when she won the Miss Pacific Coast Teen USA title in 2017. After the pageant, she was scouted by agencies in New York and took the big leap from the Bay Area to the Big Apple to pursue modeling full-time at 18 years old. 

Marizza’s portfolio consists of work with some of the most popular brands in America. Since her start, she has booked jobs with H&M, L'Oréal, Adidas, American Eagle, NorthFace, Lululemon, Target, Kohls, Macy’s and many more. In addition to this, she has appeared in spreads of Seventeen Magazine, Cosmopolitan U.S. and Marie Claire Magazine and has graced the runways of New York Fashion Week multiple times. In 2021, Marizza returned to her pageant roots and won the Miss New York Earth USA 2021 title. She ultimately earned a place in the Top 20 of the Miss Earth USA 2021 pageant, where she advocated for environmental awareness and social responsibility to protect the environment through her platform, #VeganForAReason. She then set out to join the Miss New York USA 2022 pageant where, out of 176 contestants, she placed 3rd runner up. 

When Marizza isn’t gracing runways or rocking photoshoots, she is working as a Data Scientist for American e-commerce site Etsy, where she works on their Product Analytics and Strategic Finance team. Outside of work, she is a mentor to college aged girls through Girls Who Code and those who compete in pageants. Through her platform, Marizza encourages more women to take up space in STEM. Her career outside of the spotlight has inspired women of all walks of life to pursue journeys in whatever field they dream of. 

Follow Marizza on Instagram to follow along her journey!

5. Leyna Bloom

Leyna Bloom holds a very special place in the history books of many communities. As a Trans Woman of Color, with roots as a Filipino and African-American, her achievements in the industry have been recognized and appreciated by many. Leyna is definitely one to watch. 

Throughout her career, she has worked within various fields of entertainment. She made her acting debut in 2019 for her work in the film, Port Authority which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In all of the festival’s history, Leyna became the first trans woman of color to star in a leading role in a film. In her time as a model, she has made waves in her work with the major magazines and publications of the industry. Leyna was the first out transgender model of color to be featured in ‘Vogue’ India. She made history again, appearing as the first openly transgender model of color to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In addition to these two historic covers, Leyna appeared on the cover of Candy Magazine in 2014, where she officially opened up about being transgender. 

You may have also seen Leyna rocking the runways at New York Fashion Week or in the Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2019 at the Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya fashion show, where she was the only transgender woman of color to walk. Among her top achievements in the industry, Leyna was cast in a campaign for H&M x Moschino by Jeremy Scott. In its October 2018 issue, Glamour Magazine deemed Leyna as one of “6 Women Who Are Shaping the Future of Fashion”. With all of the firsts and major achievements throughout her career, Leyna advocates for more diversity and trans inclusion. She is living proof that anything is possible if you show up and show out.

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Written By Nico Belasco

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