Dramedy tackles the silliness of beauty standards

‘Pinay beauty (She’s no white)’

CEBU, Philippines — With Chai Fonacier top-billing “Pinay Beauty,” the petite, brown-skinned actress is a contrast to the tall, fair-skinned mestiza leading lady we’re accustomed to.

Produced by Quantum Films, MJM Productions, and Epic Media, “Pinay Beauty” is among the eight entries of the 2nd Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino which begins today.

Fonacier stars alongside Edgar Allan Guzman and Maxine Medina for a social commentary made through the eyes of a brown-skinned woman and her enamored boyfriend, asking what Pinay beauty is and questioning the standards that make the Filipina aesthetic.

Edgar Allan is Migs, an adoring boyfriend to Annie (Chai) who dreams of working as Snow White at Hong Kong Disneyland. To achieve that, Annie puts together an “aesthetic plan”: one that will give her fair and smooth skin, bigger breasts, and Caucasian looks so she could earn her dollars and live in her romantic princess world.

Migs and Annie have been together for seven years, and throughout their relationship, he has been one to make sure that Annie gets whatever her heart desires. Migs soon finds himself in a serious debt for Annie. But there might just be a way out, as the loan shark offers him a deal. Migs has three days to find famous actress, Lovely G (Maxine), introduce her to the loan shark, and his debt is settled. Problem is, how does a regular guy even come close to a celebrity? But for Annie, Migs will lie, steal, trespass, and get thrown into jail.

In a press conference at Robinsons Galleria Cebu’s Providore restaurant, Chai, Maxine, Edgar Allan and Hanna Ledesma talked about their realizations while doing “Pinay Beauty.”

Chai identifies with Annie’s issues with her looks. “Insecurities, because of the messaging of the entire world, especially that I’m brown-skinned. You see all these billboards about ‘Kutis Pilipina’ and you feel like wala koy labot ana nga Pinay raman gihapon ko…”

She used to steal her aunt’s whitening lotions so she could be fairer like her classmates who seemed to be treated differently because of how they looked. Her mom and elder sister would tell her off, constantly reassuring her that there was nothing wrong with her.

“During high school, I’d feel the pressure. It took a while for me to understand what my mom really meant until I saw the effect for other people. That’s when it was solidified that my skin color was okay and I became fine with what I’ve got.”

“I already know how to deal with it. My character though, she doesn’t have a solution yet. So I had to return to those times when it was just an unfamiliar monster to me,” says Chai.

Hanna portrays Japo, one of Migs’ friends who is rough around the edges and one of the boys. “I was fortunate enough to work with people like Chai and Maxine who are very confident women. Especially in our industry, talagang bubugbugin ka ng insecurities,” Hanna shares.

For Edgar, anyone on the quest for beauty and love will identify with “Pinay Beauty.” The actor says that the film is a reminder to be contented, yet to also to take care and treat one’s self well.

“Yung sobra na magmahal, yung ibibigay lahat ng gusto at ang kaya nilang ibigay, gagawin ang lahat para mapasaya yung mga mahal nila. Hindi pwedeng ibigay mo lahat, kailangan mo rin magtira para sa sarili mo,” EA shares.

Chai adds that “Pinay Beauty” doesn’t only speak for the brown-skinned women, nor just women.

“It talks about more important issues form the lens of colorism and beauty standards. From the lens of the pressures we go through. And not just the females. The males go through it as much which leads to even deeper issues like toxic masculinity and all that crap that makes us not learn how to ask for help. All these issues that make us really bad people,” Chai says.

Chai believes that the film was created to call out the “silliness of beauty standards.” She points out that not only dark-skinned Filipinos have these pressures: even people with fair skin are subject to nit-picking as well.

“Baliktarin mo man ang mundo, it’s the same complaint. The funny thing is, it’s all our own doing,” Chai says.

But the definition of Pinay beauty and self-love is all just scratching the surface for Chai. For her, “Pinay Beauty” also calls out the sort of “silliness” that makes us ask things like “What the hell are we doing to each other?” because of these beauty standards.

It calls out other people’s tendency to set standards, and then ruthlessly feast on someone who doesn’t subscribe to their rules.

“They have a sense of entitlement over these people they see on TV. They expect these men and women to be mannequins and once they break these rules, they have no qualms about destroying the people they call their idols. And for what? Because it started with beauty standards. It’s silly, right? What the hell do we do to each other? Why do we make each other suffer in this way?” Chai asks.

And Hanna agrees. She feels for everyone affected by ridiculous barometers. “Especially now in the era of social media. Sabihin mo na brown-skinned pero sabi ng Instagram kailangan ganito ang katawan mo. O kung maputi ka dapat ganito mata o, dapat mahaba buhok mo. In this movie, it’s about self-acceptance. It’s important that viewers, especially the youth, become aware of the idea that you shouldn’t rely on the external or social media.”

“Hindi nila dapat hinahabol yun. Dapat ang hinahabol nila is betterment sa sarili nila. Kung saan sila magiging masaya, saan sila uunlad. Appreciate what you have, but at the same time strive to be better,” Hanna advises.

Directed by Jay Abello and also starring Janus Del Prado, Nico Antontio, and Mariko Ledesma, “Pinay Beauty (She’s No White)” will run from Aug. 15-22 on cinemas nationwide.