A day in Makeover TV

Everybody enjoys a Cinderella story. Or the ugly-duckling-turned-beautiful-swan kind of story. I mean, how do you explain the influx of the modern retelling of these fairytales like US-made shows that also hit big worldwide such as Extreme Makeover, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, The Swan, ad infinitum?

Some years back, we had Born Diva, a first on national television that had budding singers undergoing surgical enhancements. These days, there’s no dearth of the makeover component in local shows, where everyday people are changed, not necessarily through invasive cosmetic work, but still through tricks and well-kept secrets of the celebrity trade.

“Who doesn’t want a makeover?” this was the explanation that talking head Jude Bacalso gave me when I found out about the concept of his much-awaited comeback program, “A Perfect Day” over RCTV Channel, which he co-hosts with Cybill Gayatin and Jennifer Mabugat. And I couldn’t agree more: why this sub-genre of Reality TV is one of the biggest trends is because makeover TV appeals to our compulsion for transformation. Who doesn’t, indeed, want to reinvent himself?

I had a first-hand experience of how things are like in makeover shows, when one day not so long ago, the hosts and crew of Perfect Day surprised me with the too-irresistible-to-pass-up opportunity to be made over for its pilot episode. (As in so surprised that I initially misunderstood it and wrongly protested, “It’s not my birthday!”) From free make-up, clothes, hair cut and color, to a “surprise” culminating activity inspired by my casual compliment on Jude’s glamour shots courtesy of fashion shutterbug Mickie Go, I was to experience a day that would be a departure from my otherwise regular working life that usually places me as an observer-relator of such things and not the actual partaker.

First part of the day was the wardrobe selection. Theme: evening glam. It was the young and fast-rising designer-stylist Cybill Gayatin, also editor-in-chief of Zee Magazine, who took charge of this like a breeze. A pro at styling, she was quick to pick out clothes on such a limited time without glossing over my personal requests. “No sleeveless please,” I practically begged. “Of course, it’s important that you’re comfortable with your new clothes,” Cybill agreed, guiding yours truly through some “costume changes.” 

Next part was make-up, and since this wasn’t something I could say as my “bestfriend,” I gladly submitted myself to the better judgment of make-up artist Jen Mabugat who, after all, studied the art abroad under award-winning, Hollywood make-up artists, plus, she had stints at the Vancouver Fashion Show before returning to the country. Jen is the only airbrush makeup artist in Cebu, and one of the very few in the entire country. 

For my hair transformation, Perfect Day took me to top hairstylist Francis Lee of Bridges Salon in J.Y. Square. And, to be honest, when I was about to get my haircut while the mirrors were covered (no peeking allowed!), I was somehow worried because I thought my hair was short already, and anything shorter than it would be close to doing a Britney (read: bald). But the Cebu-based Singaporean Francis reassured, “Your hair is not short,” as he coursed his fingers through my hair to feel its texture and know what style and shade would suit it. 

To cut this story short… when the moment of truth came, when the crew and some curious onlookers gathered to watch my reaction upon the “unveiling” of my look, and when the covers were finally taken away… it wasn’t hard to realize that everybody truly deserves a makeover.

And I could not have handled the “surprise” activity, which was a glam pictorial under Mickie Go, if I didn’t look or feel good about myself. 

This, however, I have learned from the experience: If you’re going to give yourself a makeover, choose to entrust yourself to people who are not just the experts, but would put prime consideration for your comfort. Entrust yourself to those who’d find ways to help you embrace yourself, play up your assets, and not those who point up your imperfections.

Being on “Perfect Day” was a confidence-boosting activity at the same time, informative crash course on what goes on behind makeover shows. I still get compliments to this day about the makeover through text, email, random people I meet on the streets, restaurants, and even during banking transactions after the pilot episode ran for more than a week (about four times on a 24-hour loop) on RCTV. These feedbacks only show that not only the “protagonists” of makeover shows are reshaped but also the perspectives of viewers.

But let me just say, that true, it’s easy nowadays to be changed on the surface, but beauty is still more than skin-deep. Enjoy a makeover, or as one writer says, a personal upgrade (it shouldn’t be confined to cellphones or computers, you know). And sustain it with a healthy perspective on inner beauty as well.

Catch a new episode of “Perfect Day” this Friday night. You can write in your requests for a free “Perfect Day” makeover for someone you know to [email protected].