As one of the country’s busiest events hosts and UAAP courtside reporters, Aiyana Perlas admits she was excited to get glammed up last March 4 for the much awaited ABS-CBN Ball. She completed her look with a bejeweled metal purse shaped like a popcorn bucket which Aiyana said was her “anik-anik” for the night. 

“My look was inspired by Ms. Ariana Grande because she was wearing a Mother of Pearl theme in one event. So naisip ko, pangalan ko naman Aiyana Perlas and idol ko naman si Ariana Granda so siyempre, mag-a-Ariana pearl din ako dito (laughs). Spring theme, so this is very nature inspired din. So I thought eksakto!” she tells PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview. 

Aiyana’s look was made in collaboration with local fashion designer AJ Javier, who has also designed looks for celebrities like Kim Chiu, Francine Diaz, and Julie Ann Jose. “AJ Javier has been designing my gowns ever since. I go back to him all the time. I am a AJ Javier loyalist. Something that I really like about our collaboration is that we’re both really open to comments and suggestions. It was a fun process making this,” Aiyana shared. 

After attending her first ABS-CBN ball in 2023, Aiyana says she has always been on the lookout for dress inspirations from international fashion events. “It depends. I always look at the Met gala or the Grammy awards. That’s really where I base my looks. No specific artist but if I feel like I resonate with the dress, that will be a straight up peg na. But I have no date tonight. Wala eh, kasi working girl ako tonight. I’m hosting one segment,” she admitted.

Aiyana started her journey in the limelight when she first auditioned for the MYX VJ Search in 2018. Within that same year, she became a courtside reporter for De la Salle University. She has hosted events that range from showbiz awards nights to major concerts like BINIverse.