CREATE NEXT
Four of the next generation’s talented creators join together for the newest collab between MEGA and Converse
Whenever women get the chance to take charge of something, we do so passionately. Last December 2021, Converse All Stars Andy Genota, Mik Tabimina, Rachelle Ruth, and Luna Mingming proved what it’s like when women are at the forefront as they embodied the Create Next mentality to produce outputs that amplify their voices in their respective industries.
THE GIRL BEHIND THE VIEWFINDER
All Star Andy’s journey to becoming the photographer she is didn’t start smoothly. However, it’s her tenacity that helped in proving everyone wrong. She explained, “I was sheltered because [my family] insisted the world would be cruel to a young woman like me. But I didn’t let that stop me. I pushed myself to step out of my comfort zone so I can grow,” and that’s exactly what we saw during the shoot.
Seeing how far she has come doesn’t blind her from the fact that it’s not gonna be sunshine and rainbows everyday. She said, “I struggle a lot with self-doubt, so my drive to fight those insecurities, to always reinvent myself, and to push myself to just continue creating makes me embody the Create Next mentality.” Looking at her challenges through this lens encourages Andy to be more and do more for herself and her fellow Filipina photographers.
SHE’LL NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE
Some may say stylists simply dress people up, but the job is so much more than all the glitz and glamour that everyone talks about. It’s not the easiest feat, but All Star Mik is powering through as a stylist despite not having a background in fashion when she started. “I just focus on doing what I enjoy, learning as much as I can, and believing that I can make it,” she said.
With how determined she is to achieve her goals, Mik ensures that her Create Next mentality appears on the outfits she puts together, and each layout she came up with for the collaborative production was a definite proof of that. Create Next is also what keeps her ahead of the game, ready to take on new and exciting challenges that come her way.
THE UNAPOLOGETIC SNEAKERHEAD
Known for her eye-catching content, All Star Rachelle is definitely one of the up-and-coming influencers of her generation. Her photos that show off her kicks and streetwear aesthetic do nothing more than show everyone the type of person she is: fierce, powerful, and creative. The reason behind all these traits? It’s simply because she’s a woman. Rachelle explained, “I rarely see girls doing what I do because they are afraid of being judged.”
This unstoppable content creator who embodies the Create Next mentality 24/7 wants her fellow Filipinas to exude the same devil-may-care attitude she has. This is why, as she was directing one of her fellow Converse All Stars or even when she was standing in front of the camera, she made sure that nothing but the passionate fire within came out.
SHE’S A MEOW-DEL, DUH
A self-proclaimed androgynous model and cat lady, All Star Luna is undoubtedly a model to look out for, and it’s because she continues to push herself to stand out. She shared that she’s always down to do something new or conceptual, even if it’s outside her comfort zone since it makes her express her true self–a perfect example of what Create Next is all about.
Luna exuded that mentality from start to finish, especially since this shoot was produced by just the four of them. “Shoots where everyone in the team is putting on a collaborative effort is a chance for everyone to create and share their art,” and she’s definitely right about that. Throughout the entire process, she expressed herself not just as a model, but also a creative who had all these crazy ideas. “It’s a chance to show what you can do, what you’re made of, and sometimes, to see how far you’ve come.”
CREATE NEXT
Having an all-female production seems unheard of, but these Converse All Stars made it happen. While we may not always see young women take charge of something big, All Stars Andy, Mik, Rachelle, and Luna certainly proved that it’s time we let them and their fellow next-gen creators take the lead.