STYLEPHILE
Stylist to the stars, Em Millan shares her journey to becoming the woman she was always meant to be
Isabella Pascua paves her own way in style
Arguable as it may be, Instagram is a worthy gauge of a person’s passions. For Em Millan, or Miss Em as we fondly call her, it would be traveling around the world, styling her superstar clients, antiaging beauty discoveries, and her latest shoe acquisitions. Out of everything, however, fashion definitely holds a high regard.
“My earliest memories would be my mom marking magazines of what she’d have her modista copy. She had an aparador of fabrics she’d source around the Philippines, and the modista would come over to our house for fittings. I would always be with my mom at these fittings,” she recalls of the
pivotal moment that ultimately made her fall in love with fashion.
Assigned male at birth, Em was always an outsider looking in when it came to the colorful world of women’s fashion, but while unknown at the time, it was that love that would become a catalyst in discovering and ultimately, shaping her true identity. “Gender expression was very important as it affirmed my womanhood. Being able to present myself as a woman was the easiest way to express my choices, my sexuality. It was a representation of the real me,” she elucidates.
By the age of 30, she began to express her most authentic self to everyone. This was also when she read about transgender history and science, and it felt like the puzzle of her identity was finally complete. Finally for her, everything made sense. Encouraged by her love for fashion, she had her ears pierced, wore a simple black A-line skirt and a pair of killer heels, and realized that the woman she is today has always been in her. Her look would always revolve around midi skirts, lace pieces, and gorgeous frocks in immaculate white. This style easily transitions to her clients as one half of the dynamic duo of Rain x Em. With Rain Dagala’s whimsical and fashion forward creations, Em Millan brings with her the classic feminine aesthetics, making the tandem one of the most sought after in the industry. “Transitioning has made me more excited and more creative in our styling jobs,” she reveals. “I understood silhouettes, proportions, and pairings better because of it.”
Today, her time revolves mostly around the schedule of her styling team. What makes her job exciting is that it has always been a dynamic industry where no two days are alike. One day she would be in shoots, and the next day, she could be going to events and meetings. On off days, she’d go out on dates with friends over a cup of coffee with a healthy serving of French fries. Currently, she’s starting a few businesses and partnerships that she is excited to add to her portfolio.
It has been a long road for Em to realize her true self, but it is only in embracing the real self that will ultimately give you the happiness this life has promised. Em is proof of that. She is thriving and successful, but also grateful for everything she has gone through. Everyday is an opportunity for her to be a better version of herself and we are most definitely in this journey with her.