01/17/2026
2016. A beautiful year of beginnings for me.
1 - I finally got to see the Eiffle Tower, a dream of mine since I was 8yo.
2 - Pia’s homecoming and a start of her fruitful career and mine. Her win jumpstarted my whole fashion journey.
3 - A memorable dress that Pia chose herself to wear at her victory parade in Araneta. I got so many media milage for this.
4 - My first bride overseas. My goof friend Castles who we in Alabama.
5 - One of my proudest achievements! Selected as one of the top 6 finalists of the best in national costume award for Bb2016.
6 - Published work for Metro Weddings. As a designer of the biggest dreams is to get your work published in a magazine.
7 - My first ever fashion show! This was May 2016 and looking back this collection was so humbling. A far cry to what I can do now.
8 - Got the opportunity to also work in commercials, of course with Pia as well. This is where I learned how to navigate the commercial work.
9 - I registered my business in 2016 and it was humbling to start getting clients that actually pay for the fashion work that I do.
10 - My humble office. Nothing fancy, not even airconditioned. But it has so much promise of what lies ahead.
11 - I did a trip to New York and visited Parsons! Little did I know that I will get the chance to actually study in this same school.
12 - The iconic Garment District. A place that eventually will house Bessie Besana Atelier in New York. I did not even think it was possible in 2016 for that to happen!
13 - A visit to the Miss Universe office. A dream come true for a pageant fan like me. Thank you Esther and Paula for this opportunity!
14 - This was an amazing experience of professionalizing the screening for the next batch of ladies applying for Aces & Queens that we fielded for Binibini and MWP.
15 - What a beautiful experience to visit Myanmar for work.
16 - The cherry on the top of the ice cream for that year was when Kylie won Miss International! She completed the our dream of achieving the Miss Universe, World and International crowns! ❤️
Looking back, it was a beautiful year followed by an amazing, challenging but fulfilling decade. Grateful for all the blessings I have received.
