Heart Evangelista’s rise to stardom: before modelling for Louis Vuitton and becoming first lady of Sorsogon, the Filipino icon starred in kids’ TV shows and then worked her way up

Mar 19 , 2021

Heart Evangelista before and after the fame. Photos: @iamhearte/Instagram

It’s been 23 years since Heart Evangelista began her rise to stardom in the Philippines. First spotted acting on a kid-friendly show called G-mik, she’s gone on to become an influencer, TV host, singer, model, philanthropist, and even a painter. She boasts an impressive 7.6 million followers on Instagram and 2.3 million subscribers on YouTube.

So how did she get there, and what were the events and milestones that got her on her way?

She comes from a wealthy background

Heart Evangelista as an adorable toddler before the fame. Photo: @iamhearte/Instagram

Evangelista is the daughter of Reynaldo Evangelista Ongpauco, the F&B magnate behind the Barrio Fiesta Group of restaurants in the Philippines. Meanwhile, her mother’s family owns a sugar cane plantation in the Philippines Camarines Sur province. As a teenager, she even lived in the US for a while – in other words, she definitely didn’t have a bad start in life!

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Heart Evangelista with her father, restaurant owner Reynaldo Evangelista Ongpauco. Photo: @iamhearte/Instagram

Growing up in such a well-off family, it’s perhaps no surprise that she also got a head start in the glamour stakes. According to her latest video on YouTube, Evangelista said that she received her first ever Hermès Birkin bag from her father at 22 years old.

She began her career at age 13

Heart Evangelista with her fellow G-mik cast members – all were considered up-and-coming stars at the time. Photo: @janusdelprado/Instagram

Nevertheless, Evangelista clearly isn’t a slouch. Her career in the spotlight began with her appearance on G-mik – a youth-oriented TV show – at the age of just 13. She played the role of Missy Sandejas and was introduced onto the programme alongside a handful of others as a young, up-and-coming talent.

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After getting noticed on G-mik, she evolved into a host and model as well as an actress, project by project. My Korean Jagiya, Juan Happy Love Story, Beautiful Strangers, My First Romance and Fashionistas by Heart are just a handful of her most binge-worthy shows and memorable films.

She got to the top through hard work

Heart Evangelista in a Louis Vuitton campaign – the model has become so famous that the world’s biggest luxury brands now seek her out for ad campaigns. Photo: @iamhearte/Instagram

Evangelista is now a 20-year veteran of the entertainment business. From being a Filipino brand ambassador for Pond’s, RLC Residences, Perfect Smile and Luxe Organix, to being the face of global luxury campaigns for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior, Bulgari, Ferragamo, Jean Paul Gaultier and more – her hard work has paid off.

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And if we needed further proof that Evangelista has been crushing it in the fashion industry, she recently showed off the Himalayan Birkin 25 she bought with her hard-earned cash online too. Around US$200,000 of her cash, to be exact. It’s no ordinary handbag, as we know from seeing a similar one on the arm of none other than Nita Ambani.

Always one to try and set a good example, the philanthropist also often encourages her followers to work hard and dream big in her You Tube videos.

She’s also an in-demand artist

One of Heart Evangelista’s paintings on a Hermès Kelly bag. Photo: @iamhearte/Instagram

She may have followed her heart and become an actress and model, but she also discovered an unusual hidden talent – painting. The Hermès bags and shirts that Evangelista hand painted have been showcased at several galleries including the Ayala Museum and Galerie Joaquin, which sold out of them several times over. As a result, there’s now a long waiting list for her paint jobs – and the star charges 90,000 Philippine pesos (US$1,800) to paint a luxury purse.

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She married Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero

Heart Evangelista with her husband, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. She is now known as the first lady of Sorsogon Photo: @iamhearte/Instagram

If we were to swap lives with a stranger, Evangelista might be on top of our list. Why? Not only has she created an incredible career for herself, but her personal life reads like a fairy tale too. In 2015, she tied the knot with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and stepped into her new role as first lady of the province of Sorsogon. She often accompanies her politician and lawyer husband on official visits to local factories, health centres, foster homes and more.

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