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Paolo Ballesteros

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Paolo Elito Macapagal Ballesteros IV, better known simply as Paolo Ballesteros, is a Filipino television host, comedian, impersonator, actor, and model. He has appeared in films and several television shows throughout his career in the Philippines, and has been one of the co-hosts of the noontime show Eat Bulaga! since 2001.

On July 12, 2022, he was announced to be the host of Drag Race Philippines. He later assumed his hosting duties again in Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale.

Biography[]

Acting Career[]

As an actor, Paolo starred as Trisha Echaverria in the Filipino film Die Beautiful in 2016, which earned him a nomination for and eventual win of the Best Actor award for the aforementioned role in the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival.[1] He has also starred as Benj in the Filipino film Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo may Boyfriend?, which was also released in 2016.

Makeup Transformations[]

Paolo gained international fame as early as 2015 for his makeup prowess, as he has been renowned for transforming his face to resemble different Hollywood celebrities, as well as Filipino celebrities, through makeup and posting them on Instagram.[2][3][4] His makeup skills have been praised by Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot,[5] American model Gigi Hadid,[6] Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey,[6] and blogger and columnist Perez Hilton.[7]

During the opening ceremony of the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival, Paolo made headlines after walking the red carpet in drag impersonating American actress Angelina Jolie, who he introduced as Angelina Magdangal (named after Jolie and Filipino celebrity Jolina Magdangal).[8] During the awards ceremony of the festival, as well as the press conference that followed, he once again made headlines after receiving his Best Actor award in drag, this time impersonating American actress Julia Roberts.[9]

Memorable Quotes[]

  • "Haller, haller, haller!" (when entering the Werk Room)
  • "Mabuhay!/Mabu-heyyy!"
  • "Good luck, at dapat pakak!"
  • "I'm your queen-ang inang host."
  • "Shhh! Shhh! Ang jingay..."
  • "Bigyan ng RuBadge 'yan! [maxi-challenge winner], please wear it with Pinoy/Pinay pride."
  • "Shantay, you may also stay." (said when he decides not to send any of the bottom contestants home or when he saves a second contestant from the bottom three in an episode)
  • "Condragulations, ladies, you've all made your mothers proud! Mga queen ang ina niyo!"
  • "Remember, ang tunay na ikaw ay ipakita sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa. Puso, puso, at puso pa rin!"
  • "Can I get an eme up in here?" (altered to avoid offending Catholics from the Philippines that may misconstrue the original line as blasphemous)
  • "Tutok na sa Untucked!, mga misis, para 'di ka mahuli sa tsismis!" (in Drag Race Philippines: Untucked!)

  • "Buckle up, mga vakla!"[10] (in promotional trailer)
  • "Rampa na! Paandar na sandosena!"
  • "Bring back my Maria Claras."
  • "Bring back my kalachuchis."
  • "Bring back my pop girls."
  • "Bring back my divas. ASAP."
  • "Bring back my beauconeras."
  • "Bring back my copycats. Meow."
  • "Bring back my shopaholic girls."
  • "Bring back my twinnies."
  • "Bring back my charoteras on fire."
  • "The shoes!" (referring to Prince wearing the same pair of heels she performed with during the Talent Show while walking the runway in Episode 1)
  • "When I call your name, kabahan ka na. Charing!"
  • "Remember, in Drag Race, 'safe' is a dangerous place, bordering on forgettable." (to Brigiding, Eva Le Queen, Lady Morgana, Marina Summers, and Xilhouete after being deemed safe in Episode 2)
  • "Where's the flowers?" (Corazon turns around) "Oh... okay." (to Corazon while critiquing her Sagalamazon look in Episode 2)
  • "Not more of that!" (to Turing in Episode 2)
  • "Gusto mo siyang makausap? Papa-contact natin kay Xilhouete..." (to Precious Paula Nicole in Episode 3 after she expressed her guilt in not being by her mother's side during her death)
  • (howl) "How about an eme eme up in here?"
  • "How about another tissue up in here?"
  • "Sinuot mo na nga yung pang-Ruveal; ba't tinago mo?" (critiquing Viñas Deluxe's Pink Pak Boom look in Episode 5)
  • "'Pag may Ruveal, i-Ruveal."
  • "When I call your name, manginig ka na."
  • "Wala naman tayo sa presinto; explain tayo ng explain."

  • "'Ama na, mga 'akla!"[11] (in promotional trailer)
  • "Dagapagat pagakagak!"
  • "You may evaporate."
  • "Bring back my girl group."
  • "Bring back my Monique Lhuilliers."
  • "Bring back my chuwariwariwaps."
  • "Bring back my nominees."
  • "Bring back my twinners."
  • "Bring back my brand ambassadors."
  • "Bring back my phenomenal billboard bombshells."
  • "Dogon't fuguck igit ugup."
  • "Hana Beshie with...
    • birth certificate."
    • vaccination card...
      • ...ay, may cup noodles pala ngayon."
    • wings."
    • class picture."
    • no therapeutic claims."
    • dedication."
    • without eyebrows."
    • toyomansi."
    • 10% cashback."
    • 3G."
  • "Agang jigingagay niyogo!"
  • "Ako lang ang gorgeous."
  • "Pwede bang... can you repeat it from the top?"
  • "Ang jingay! May sasabihin pa si Jade So."

  • "Bring back my viral queens."
  • "Bring back my Earth warriors."
  • "Bring back my Amakabogeras."
  • "Bring back my chikadoras."
  • "Bring back my bulutong-hangin--- (cracking up) aray ko."
  • "Bring back my songbirds."
  • "Bring back my queen-ang inas."
  • "Bring back my lip-sync assassins."
  • "Bring back my slayers."
  • "Being a perfectionist is not a bad thing, 'no? Pero 'wag masyadong too serious." (to Myx Chanel while critiquing their viral video in Episode 1)
  • "Ba't sumali ka? Sumabay ka sa kanya? Gaga..." (asking Maxie in Episode 2 if she was willing to get eliminated before Angel)
  • "Eh, kung kayong dalawa kaya pauwiin ko?"
    • Maxie: "'Wag naman... 'Wag naman ganun."
    • Angel: "Paano naman yung family, 'di ba?"
  • "Hindi dapat ikaw ang unang susuko sa sarili mo. OK lang huminto, yes... pero dapat lalaban pa din at tatapusin ang laban." (after Yudipota walked out during Episode 4's lip-sync)
  • "Paano mo siya maibibigay nang ganun--- napagdaanan mo yun, 'di ba?" (critiquing Zymba Ding's jokes as Wilma Doesnt during Snatch Game)
  • while critiquing Angel in Episode 6:
    • "Malapit na 'kong mausog sa singit mo."
    • Paolo: Surprise us... surprise me!
      • Angel: Surprise, Mama Pao!
      • Paolo: (fake scare) Thank you, Angel! Fast learner, and that's what I want.
  • "Lucky is the hand that holds the Golden Balut."
  • "Ang lakas ng tama mo, girl..." (while Angel addresses her younger self in Episode 9)
  • Paolo: Sashay away, hija... for real this time.
    • Angel: Thank you so much, Dra--- parang 'di na 'ko naniniwala diyan, Ma.
    • Paolo: For real na nga, bakla! (upon eliminating Angel in Episode 10)
  • "Bwisit ka! (cracking up while crying) Guard! Shuta ka, Angel!" (when Angel exited the Main Stage after Khianna and Maxie's Lip Sync for the Crown)

    • "Racers, start your engines... and may the best Slaysian queen... win!"
    • "Bigyan ng RuBadge 'yan! Wear it with Slaysian pride, [maxi-challenge winner]."
    • "With great power from our Slaysian ancestors comes great responsibility. Which queen have you chosen to get the karate chop?" (said as a reminder to the Lip Sync for Your Legacy winner before eliminating a queen in the bottom until Episode 6)
    • "You are, and will always be a true Slaysian sensation." (said to the eliminated queen before telling them to "Sashay away")
    • "Remember, always be true to yourself in your thoughts, in your words, and in everything you do. Puso, puso, at puso pa rin!"

  • "My Slaysian acclas, all rise... Sugod!"[12] (in promotional trailer)
  • "Yes? Sum Ting Wong?"
  • "While you queens deliberate and untuck in the Werk Room, the judges and I...
    • ...will go home. No... (laugh)
      • ...We'll be giving out pasalubong."
    • ...will be eating merienda."
    • ...will be making sampaguita necklaces as an offering to my beauty."
    • ...will winnow the rice."
    • ...will have therapy. We'll be playing sungka."
    • ...will be playing 'Pinoy Genius Yarn?'."
  • "Bring back my A-pop girlies."
  • "Bring back my sweet girls."
  • "Bring back my Miss Slay-gons."
  • "Bring back my hardworking girls."
  • "Bring back my political butterflies."
  • "You will be judged individually by the Lord God Almighty--- no, by us." (before naming the top and bottom queens of Episode 2)
  • "Why didn't we just ask Viñas?" (after Arizona Brandy and Brigiding said that none of the Filipino queens dragged their team down during the Girl Group Challenge in Episode 2)
  • "I'm your queen-ang inang labandera." (referencing the outfit she wore on the Main Stage in Episode 4)

    • Trivia[]

    • Paolo Ballesteros is related to Fernando Amorsolo, the Philippines' first National Artist[13], being Amorsolo's great-grandson.[14]
    • Paolo has a daughter named Keira Claire.[15]
    • Paolo officially came out as gay in 2019, following years of speculation by Philippine media about his sexuality.[17]
    • Paolo's favorite queens from RuPaul's Drag Race include Bianca Del Rio, Gigi Goode, and Manila Luzon.[18]
    • During a virtual interview in 2020, Paolo initially stated that he wanted to only be a judge on Drag Race Philippines should the franchise be greenlit, and expressed his preference for Filipino comedian Vice Ganda to host the show instead at the time.[18]
    • Paolo is colorblind, being unable to distinguish blue, brown, green, red, and violet[19], as well as gray.[20]
    • Paolo is a designer, having created National Costumes for representatives of Binibining Pilipinas.[21][22]

    Gallery[]

    Drag Race Philippines Season 1 Looks[]

    Drag Race Philippines Season 2 Looks[]

    Drag Race Philippines Season 3 Looks[]

    Drag Race Thailand Season 3 Looks[]

    Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale Season 1 Looks[]

    Filmography[]

    TV[]

    Year Title Role Notes
    2025 Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale Self Host
    2024 Drag Race Thailand (Season 3) Self Guest Judge
    2022-
    present     		Drag Race Philippines Self Host
    2001-
    present     		Eat Bulaga! Self Host

    External Links[]

    References[]

    1. ↑ Paolo Ballesteros bags Best Actor award at Tokyo film fest | Philippine Star — November 3, 2016
    2. ↑ This Guy Turned Himself Into Dakota Johnson — & It’s Amazing | Refinery29 — March 11, 2015
    3. ↑ Makeup Artist Transforms Himself Into Kim Kardashian, Dakota Johnson & Other Female Celebrities—You Gotta See This! | E! News Online — March 11, 2015
    4. ↑ Caitlyn, is that you? Male Instagram star reveals jaw-dropping transformation into Ms Jenner, Kim Kardashian and the reality TV clan using just make-up (and a few wigs) | Daily Mail Online — June 12, 2015
    5. ↑ 'Wonder Woman' star Gal Gadot praises Paolo Ballesteros on latest makeup transformation | CNN Philippines — June 14, 2017
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gigi Hadid, Lena Headey praise Paolo Ballesteros makeup transformations | Philippine Daily Inquirer — May 15, 2016
    7. ↑ Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton is obsessed with Paolo Ballesteros' makeup transformations | GMA News — November 2, 2017
    8. ↑ Paolo Ballesteros transforms into Angelina Jolie at Tokyo film fest | SunStar.com.ph — October 27, 2016
    9. ↑ Paolo Ballesteros Accepted His Best Actor Award Dressed As Julia Roberts | COSMOPOLITAN Philippines — November 4, 2016
    10. ↑ Drag Race Philippines Season 1 Promo Trailer 🇵🇭 | YouTube — August 4, 2022
    11. ↑ Drag Race Philippines Season 2 🌴 Premieres August 2 | YouTube — July 11, 2023
    12. ↑ Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale | Meet The Queens of Season 1 Trailer | YouTube — July 16, 2025
    13. ↑ Order of National Artists: Fernando Amorsolo | National Commission for Culture and the Arts — June 1, 2015
    14. ↑ Paolo Ballesteros’ first resin painting doesn’t look like a beginner’s at all | inquirer.net — April 10, 2018
    15. ↑ Ex-girlfriend on Paolo Ballesteros: Best actor, best daddy, best friend | GMA News — December 31, 2016
    16. ↑ Paolo Ballesteros says his daughter knows he is gay | PEP.ph — February 12, 2020
    17. ↑ Paolo Ballesteros proudly admits "I'm a lady" | PEP.ph — August 21, 2019
    18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 (TL) PAOLO, Ayaw Mag-HOST ng ‘DRAG RACE PHILIPPINES’! JUDGE Na Lang Daw Siya, si VICE GANDA ang HOST! | YouTube — September 30, 2020
    19. ↑ COVER: King of kweens | Philippine Star — December 24, 2016
    20. ↑ Paolo Ballesteros has always been ready for his close-up | BusinessMirror — December 22, 2016
    21. ↑ (TL) Paolo Ballesteros bilang fashion designer | Balita by Manila Bulletin — November 21, 2020
    22. ↑ Paolo Ballesteros' 'Tikbalang' design wins Best National Costume at Binibining Pilipinas 2022 | Philippine Star Global — August 1, 2022

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