A TIME IN NEW YORK
It was supposed to be the first exhale of spring, where we were promised considerable chill, sunlight poking through the gathering of clouds, and as the photographs suggested, a blooming of colors through the pockets of flowerbeds that decorated the city. However, the high (albeit jetlagged) spirits of our arrival was marred by biting winds and a rude drenching of rain. The possibility of an overcast of a dull gray hung over us all night and even in the morning of the day’s scheduled cover shoot, one that intended to feature the famed Midtown Manhattan skyline in all its towering and gleaming glory. However, as if orchestrated by the powers may be, the day slowly revealed a clear as blue sky and a draping of toasty blanket of warmth by the sun in full force. Perhaps it knew that we were shooting the crowned queen of the universe herself, Catriona Gray, that it shifted its thoughts on a dreary Saturday, and instead gave us the weather we were all hoping for.
“I’m sorry you had to experience the crazy rain when you got here,” offered Catriona, as she boarded the van before taking her to one of the rooftops in Hudson Yards. Already fully acclimated to the New York life, she was already apologizing on behalf of the city. Not that there was anything to really be sorry for, because come on, we had a Miss Universe with us, beaming silly punctured with fits of child-like giggles to power us through the day we had lined up.
The premise was fairly straightforward: capture Catriona Gray glamorously high above the cityscape in a look that is equal parts effortless and high-octane. This commanded a wardrobe full of sparkle, shine, and sass, really, as she sauntered in one silverinspired number after the other. And just like that, Catriona Gray and the MEGA team was raring and ready to take on the heights and expanse of New York.
A MOMENT IN TIME
By this time, the sun was in full command, causing streaks of sweat to run down our collective backs, but Catriona wasn’t fazed by it at all. As the light cranked up, she soaked it all in, presumably thawing out her tropical girl heart. A twirl here, a swing of her body to a graceful arch there, the queen was in her element, giving us shot after shot that really illustrated a progression of finesse to all out fierce. It is a word we use lightly, but for her, it sounds just about right, especially since she was anointed such by the pop cultural etymology of the word herself, Ms. Tyra Banks.
Not too long after, we navigated our way through the famed spots around the city: the Vessel, Time’s Square at high noon (you can only imagine how packed it was), and finally, Central Park, where we appropriately winded things down with a leisurely walk around.
Despite trying to get the most content and work done in a speed of time, even faster by a New York standard, Catriona managed to take some time to enjoy the moment, snapping pictures here and there, recording a video when an opportunity presented itself, clearly showing us how present she truly is despite the rush that she was in. Here, the speed of the seconds, minutes, and hours were of no object for her, because despite of, she managed to find a center of calm, deliver, and really, enjoy the moment.
“See you in Manila,” she says, as we showered her with a load of pleasantries to punctuate our full day of shooting. “Or back here, whatever works,” she trails off, smiling. Wherever the world takes us, queen.
REINSTATING JOY
In the same breadth as the city that never sleeps or stops, there was no time to rest as the next day of this endeavor of pride took us to Dumbo, Brooklyn, a gentrified portion where warehouse buildings and cobblestone streets frame the famed Brooklyn bridge and Manhattan bridge from every opportune corner. Tucked within the veinlike alleyways is a studio that can be best described as a world of wonder.
Complete with a slice of light filtering through the fraction of a window, one could notice even the most minutest dust dance in mid-air as the morning was picking up. From the periphery, it was as if a memory took over with everything from a grand rattan peacock chair, mannequins in a range of sizes, dismantled horses from a carousel, an eclectic mix of furniture in various prints and forms, and even an oversized disco ball deeper into the space.
Despite what seems to be a hoarder’s dream, and somewhere along, a Marie Kondo nightmare, there stood a figure that was every bit of calm and dare we say it, normal. Replete of the drama and camp that is usually akin to a larger-than-life persona, Karl Westerberg, who easily towered over everyone in the room was a ball of barely contained excitement, despite only having a few hours of rest following the wedding of Marc Jacobs he and his husband had just attended the night before. But here he was, preparing to be transformed into Manila Luzon, with every bit of drama, opulence, and Filipino pride that we packed along with us for the trip.
It is no secret that the makeup and hair routine takes close to a lifetime in the realm of drag, and even despite the painstaking routine, Karl who was now slowly relenting to Manila was all smiles, dropping a witty jab one second and posing the house down the next. (Well, at least from the neck up.)
Without a moment to spare, she was fitted in the golden imaginations of Filipino designers, and later on festooned with even more gold accessories, shoes, and nails. And just like magic, she was there, in all her charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.
“We should be playing some Filipino music up in here,” she suggests, as the shoot carefully went along. Cranking up some Jake Zyrus (formerly known as Charice) and Sarah Geronimo, Manila Luzon truly gave us a show and then some, bringing more life than we thought we needed in a day.
With more than enough material, stills and in motion, our heads finally came to terms with the fact that we were in fact interfacing with one of the world’s famous drag queens. Proudly carrying the name of the country, waving the flags of two kinds of pride, Manila Luzon is a conduit to a necessary and timely discussion. “It’s time to put the joy back where it was taken away,” she says in our interview. While she clearly spoke of something greater and allencompassing, it is the same thing that can be said about her, as she reinstates happiness in every way she can, this slice of time with her most especially.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN
Time hardly ever stands still in New York City. In fact, there is no known record of it ever being so, but perhaps we could make a move to contest, because for a whirlwind of a trip to the fraction of the world where everyone hustles and moves at a fast, frantic, and frenzied pace, time stood still—even for just a while.
And consider it a fortuitous aligning of the universe, because for us, it happened twice.