CHECKOUT COUNTER: Sweet sixteen

MANILA, Philippines - Remember playing dress-up in your mom’s room when you were a lot younger? You’d put on red lipstick (accidentally) all over your face, wear all the jewelry you could find, and dance with the pair of heels you thought was the prettiest. It was a nice experience — putting yourself in the shoes (literally) of someone you admired. The same kind of curiosity arises when you turn 16. It’s the time for experimenting, trying to live your life like the girls on the pages of your favorite glossies, and slowly learning that growing up isn’t as fabulous as coming-of-age movies make it seem to be. As the iconic Britney Spears once said, you’re not a girl but not yet a woman. It’s a very confusing time. You’re gonna make mistakes (lots of them), but you can always have fun and be extra while you’re learning the ropes of life. After all, isn’t that what being 16 is all about?

Just take it from Juliana Gomez. With celebrity couple Richard and Lucy Torres-Gomez as her parents, this 16-year-old is no stranger to the spotlight. She could easily be on her way to becoming the “It” girl of her generation, but Juliana enjoys making the most of her youth. She goes to prom with her besties, attends volleyball training, and even makes time to have dinner with her parents. If her Instagram feed (@gomezjuliana) is any indication, she’s taking her time growing up and learning to love every second of it.

Photos by SHAIRA LUNA

Modeled by JULIANA GOMEZ

Produced and styled by NEAL P. CORPUS and TIN SARTORIO

Make-up by GERY PEñaso

Hair by RAYMUND DEFEO

Sittings by MARGA BUENAVENTURA and MAINE MANALANSAN

Special thanks to W TALENT MANAGEMENT