Last April 22, 2023, 24 transgender women from all over Asia showed their modelling prowess as they wove their way through the crowd at Revel at the Palace, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig wearing the designs of Paola Caceres and Nat Manila. 

The event was hosted by SLAY transman model Cameron Scrase and 2022 SLAY Model Search North America winner Jasmine Basanes. 

Also present to share their personal stories and support were trailblazer model and designer Crimsona Kaiser and Flux National President Queen Victoria Ortega. 

This was the preliminary competition of SLAY Model Search Asia and the participants came to represent and live their truth. All also hoped to be part of Slay Model Management, the world's first trans exclusive modeling agency based in Los Angeles, California, USA and the brainchild of Slay Model Management’s founder and director Cece Asuncion.  

Here is the full list of the 24 contenders for the 2023 SLAY Model Search Asia: 

Vivi Hedendahl (Philippines)

Risa Purisa (Thailand)

Louell Celis (Philippines)

Lily Othman (Malaysia)

Meera Singhania-Rehani (India)

Tracey de la Cruz (Philippines) 

B Kanapat (Thailand)

Vi Macario (Philippines)

Nella Johnson (Philippines)

Nana Jantarat (Thailand)

Fellini Rose (Vietnam)

Abby Ecalnir (Philippines)

Neerja Punia (India)

Mykee Garcia (Philippines)

Mitch Ochosa (Philippines)

Elle Carbonilla (Philippines)

Sauce Chulalakkul (Thailand)

KC Cusi (Philippines)

Drian Bautista (Philippines)

Vheny Aggreny (Indonesia)

Sandra Nandeibam (India)

Tangelina Likitwatnannon (Thailand)

Lauren Sanz (Philippines)

AJ Jaluage (Philippines)

SLAY Model Management is “the premier management company representing transgender fashion talent.” It is their hope to further promote inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry. 

According to Cece, a SLAY Model is “is someone who is passionate about this world. Not only should you be passionate about being a model, you should also be passionate about the people you work with and the art that you create.”

He started the agency in 2016, driven by his advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights, particularly trans visibility. 

“In the beginning of opening SLAY, there were no opportunities for trans models. A lot of education had to happen, many awkward conversations, inter-community discourse, and the daily urge to school people on social media that trans is beautiful. However, our story is not one of strife or victimhood, it is one of resilience, success and the importance of vigilance,” Cece shared. 

He has made a mark in the industry and have paved the way for trans models to work with global fashion brands such as Vogue Paris, Vogue Scandinavia, Elle France, Macy’s, Uber, and Tinder. 

This year is quite significant as Cece launches Asian operations with the opening of Manila-based Slay Models Asia. 

It aims “to develop successful trans models from the Asian region, promote trans visibility and representation in the Asian modeling industry, and champion Asian trans representation with global brands all over the world.”

Niccolo Cosme and Ben Bernabe were named co-directors of SLAY Models Asia, which will hold the license for the SLAY Model Management brand not just in the Philippines but also for the whole Asian region. Both share Cece’s vision and are advocates of LGBTQ+ visibility themselves. 

“As a fashion and beauty photographer for more than two decades, I have made it a point to advocate for trans visibility and representation in fashion and beauty, not just through my words but also through my body of work,”  said Niccolo, Creative Director of digital marketing and creative agency Howwwl Digital. “I have been working with trans models—whether for my conceptual art pieces or my commercial work—to promote inclusivity in my industry and I’m excited that I will be able to do this on a larger scale as co-director of SLAY Models Asia.”

For Niccolo, a SLAY Model has self-awareness. “It shows that you are professional; that you have done your homework by studying yourself and your own body of work and you constantly find ways to make yourself better.”

“Speaking as an LGBTQIA+ rights advocate, the success of SLAY Model Management is a concrete example that trans visibility matters; trans representation matters,” said Ben, Executive Director of health and human rights NGO The Red Whistle. “Trans models, just like any model of any gender identity, just want to work and give their best at what they do and we will do our best to find them clients who will see them as the beautiful persons that they are.”

For Ben, a SLAY Model is more than their work. “They are a beacon of representation and visibility for the trans community and everything that they do will matter. Their body of work will be their statements.”

The SLAY Model Search final competition aired live last Thursday, April 27 on ABS-CBN platforms iWantTFC and ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel. Meanwhile, Bigo Live captured all the excitement backstage. 

For those who missed the live coverage or want to watch it again, there will be a rerun of the finale on MYX this April 29 (Saturday), and on TFC, Metro, Kapamilya Online Live,and the Kapamilya Channel on April 30 (Sunday).