ANDREA Brillantes turned heads after showing up almost unrecognizable in a black cat costume at the “New Nocturnals” Halloween ball in Makati City on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old actress went full feline fantasy at the star-studded event organized by Raymond Gutierrez and Ash Rye, the duo behind the Opulence Ball.
“The theme was nocturnal and cars, nocturnal animals,” she said on the red carpet. “Naalala ko nung bata ako, kwentuhan sa yaya ko… pag may nakita ka na itim na pusa, nagta-transform daw sila into a human. Ito yun.”
The actress said her transformation took more than four hours to complete. She and her team began preparing as early as 3:00 p.m. to make it to the 8:00 p.m. call time.
“The scariest thing is pag maligo ako mamaya, kinakabahan ako. Sana matanggal ko itong lahat,” she said in jest.
Brillantes, who looks forward to Halloween every year with elaborate costumes, said she doesn’t feel pressured to surpass her past looks.
“Ever since I was a kid, mahilig ako sa Halloween. Dito ko na-express creativity ko,” she said, adding that her only worry is spending too much on costumes.
The New Nocturnals transformed Shooting Gallery Studios into a den of dark glamour, where celebrities and influencers showcased eerie yet stylish looks.
Kyline Alcantara mixed handsome and haunting with a tuxedo jacket, half-ghoul mask, and cropped blonde wig, while Michelle Dee went theatrical in a jester-inspired outfit featuring massive shoulder pads, a matching hat, and a tulle-trimmed skirt.
Drag Den Philippines alum Shewarma turned heads with a satirical “Sarah Disgrasya” costume, complete with spectacles, a mole, and a suitcase labeled “ghost projects.”
Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin attended their first Halloween ball together in matching mummy-inspired ensembles, while Barbie Imperial channeled a siren in a black-and-green gown with a scale finish.
Kylie Verzosa appeared as a haunting bride, complete with a lace veil and heart-shaped purse. Jillian Ward went gothic in a beaded black dress and veil, clutching an anatomical heart accessory she joked she “broke” herself.
Also spotted were Ruffa and Richard Gutierrez dressed as Morticia Addams and a ghoul, as well as Darren Espanto, Viñas Deluxe, and Hayden Kho, who embraced the “dark, edgy, and sexy” theme.
Gutierrez said the concept behind the event was to explore the “dark creatures inside all of us.” Following last year’s disco-themed Opulence Ball, he and Rye wanted something “different and unexpected.”
“I have to say, the crowd this year really stepped it up,” Gutierrez said. “They understood the assignment. There were so many best-dressed people with amazing looks.”
