VODA presents Khalil Golamco from the Philippines. She is mixed Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino. Her own personal brand is focused on fashion and skincare.

How do you define beauty and confidence in your life? How do these concepts influence your daily decisions?

I would say beauty is within, but don’t forget to take care of your appearance as well. I feel much much better when I’m put together. If I look good, I feel good. And feeling good makes me feel much more confident than usual and it makes me make better decisions. Makes me think clearly because I feel sure of myself.

How do you stay motivated and maintain a positive mindset in your daily life?

I live by what The Dowager Countess said in Downton Abbey, “ You're a woman with a brain and reasonable ability. Stop whining and find something to do.” I believe that every human being has a brain and unique capabilities. I believe in myself and I know myself very well to know I can achieve things and that makes me live life with a positive mindset. 

What role does fashion and style play in your self-expression? How do you use it to communicate your personality?

A classmate back in college once described my style as elegant and sophisticated. And that was before I started to experiment more with my style. The way you dress actually says a lot about yourself. But now I’m much more versatile with the outfits I put together. I really like dressing up especially when I’m filming a reel. And I like to look glam because that’s me. Fashion is just so fun. 

Who are your biggest inspirations in the modeling industry and why?

I grew up reading Teen Vogue and watching Fashion TV. I remember seeing Karlie Kloss on the cover of Teen Vogue and seeing Coco Rocha on the runway. I love high fashion. And I understand the art of fashion. I started to watch Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show too. There are so many models I look up to and each one of them are so disciplined and honestly so magnetic to look at. And they’re very smart too. 

What trends are you currently excited about in the fashion world?

I’ve been seeing a lot of 2000’s trends and leather. I like RnB music. I like the 2000’s fashion and would love to dress like that. Love that. 

How do you see social media impacting the modeling industry today?

Social media has made so many people famous. I’ve gotten so much fashion and make up advice through social media. It can really elevate a model’s career. I mean who doesn’t wanna get to know a model you look up to? People follow people they get inspiration from. 

What do you think makes someone truly photogenic?

Be truly confident with how you look and know your angles. It really shows in photos. We all have bad days but just believing you look good will emulate in photos. 

What's your favorite guilty pleasure snack?

Well…it’s not really a snack. But I loooove iced coffee. I gotta have one or two everyday. I know…so LA of me. 

What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done?

Go with someone I just met to the beach and leave my friends behind. They got mad at me cause I packed my luggage and left without telling them. They went out to eat at that time. I didn’t even tell them I was going to leave. That was reckless of me. 

If you could have any job in the world for one week, what would it be?

I would love to be barrister or a human rights lawyer. There are so many injustices in the world and it’s my dream to help the people in need to find justice.

If you could swap places with any celebrity for a day, who would it be and what would you do?

Lisa from BlackPink. She’s an amazing dancer, the face of designer brands, and recently a new addition in White Lotus. Love that life.