More "fabulous" guys – and gals – like Kyan and Thom were spotted in the Shangri-La exclusive presscon.
The show features five straight gays, experts in their chosen fields, who give fabulous makeovers for straight guys. (Completing the list of the reality show’s Fabulous Five or "Fab 5" are hosts, fashion savant, Carson Kressley, who was recently seen as judge in the Miss Universe in Bangkok, Thailand; food and wine connoisseur Ted Allen and culture-vulture Jai Rodriguez.)
Queer Eye, to some local observers, is more than a makeover or fashion emergency show. It somehow bridges the gap between gender benders, heterosexuals and homosexuals. The show creates and posts a friendly atmosphere among sexes. The five hosts are not your typical gay friends, contrary to the usual loud and flamboyant perception on gay men. They are all drop-dead gorgeous.
The Fab 5 dress up and look like your average "Joe" but have high-taste and flair for fashion, design, good life and anything beautiful. They are physically your "Knight in Shining Armor" but are mentally "princesses," so to speak.
With these exciting elements, Queer Eye has attracted a remarkable audience share in a short span of time. This is no surprise since the Fab 5 are as engaging, bubbly, smart and enthusiastic as their local counterparts.
As proof of Queer Eye’s success in the local TV scene, over a hundred invited guests confirmed to the strictly-by-invitation event in Makati. The organizers, Ayala Malls and Stores Specialists, Inc., decided to move the event to a bigger venue – from Makati Shangri-La’s Pasay Room to Rizal Ballroom C – to accommodate eager fans and curious onlookers.
When the style experts entered the room, "ooohs" and "aaahs" reverberated in the four corners of the ballroom. An engaging téte-a-téte began, and the rest, as they say, is history.
"My dream makeover," begins Thom jokingly, "is my hair."
"(In the show,) we do makeovers for average guys who have no resources (unlike) celebrities who have personal stylists," Kyan says of the thrust of the show. "(But of course,) we would like to do makeovers with Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie," continues Kyan who considers Tom Ford an "amazing designer" and his "style icon."
"I love designs that are personal," Thom says of his design philosophy and take on the show as interior design doctor. "The design (should be) about people who live in it (and their food among others)."
Though he is very western, Thom believes in feng shui, the art of placement and the thoughtful way of doing it. He also says he interprets this Oriental knowledge in his own way.
Grooming expert Kyan shares, "(Unnecessary hair – whether in the nose or ears) always gets me."
"There are no rules in (hair) coloring," he says. "It’s just a matter of finding what works for you. Try not being too hard (with your hair grooming) to the point of (losing your identity)."
Asked if they personally check the changes in the guys who have received makeovers from them, Thom replies, "Yeah. It’s more of stalking than checking out."
"We do follow up stories and episodes to see the changes," adds Kyan.
"I hope we don’t turn them into gays," kids Thom.
With the hosts’ innate sense of humor and expertise, it is no wonder their show is a hit here and in the US. It is a help especially to most men who are always on the go and need practical yet effective tips.
More than anything else, the hosts get along with each other on and off cam.
"We’re not only co-workers. We’re like brothers (on the set)," Thom says. "(In fact,) Kyan has a crush on me."
Away from the klieg lights, the Fab 2 and the three others have a life of their own which reflects what they do in the show.
Kyan, whose idea of relaxing is watching movies, taking photographs or walking along the beach, is a specialist in men’s skin care and grooming. He has attended extensive training and earned professional experience in the hair, spa and retail industries. Tucking a certificate in cosmetology under his belt from the Aveda Institute in New York, Kyan worked as a colorist at the Arrojo Studio in Soho and has done TV and magazine projects. He is the author of Beautified: Secrets for Women to Look Great and Feel Fabulous.
Thom, on the other hand, is a car fanatic, who recommends Volvo, Volkswagen, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz as perfect cars for gays like him. However, choosing a car, he adds, depends on how gay guy one is.
Thom, who says eyes are the windows to a person’s soul, has his own interior design company, Thom Filicia, Inc., of which he is the founder. Being named as one of House Beautiful’s Top 100 designers, Thom has done residential and commercial projects to top Hollywood and fashion personalities. Some of his designs were featured in top glossies and dailies like House & Garden, W, Details, New York and The New York Times.
Having the opportunity to help others and enjoy the fame it entails, the Fab 2 are still overwhelmed of the facts of celebrity-dom.
"I never thought of being a role gay model," says Thom of the difference the show has done in the lives of the many guys out there.
"I feel it (being part of the show) is a responsibility," Kyan ends. "I’m honored to do what I could do. Working (closely) with straight guys, I’ve learned it’s okay to be gay."