Break The Mold

Consider This Kris Bernal’s Bold New Statement.

- Pong Castillo

Her Good Side

KRIS BERNAL MAKES A QUIET ARRIVAL at the newly opened Inflatable Island in Subic.

On Holy Tuesday, the resort was expectedly packed and busy, and the crowd needed a few looks at the five-foot actress to notice that it was her, walking alongside them in her body-contouring dress, wrapped in a beach towel. From afar, Kris looked nothing apart from Tinay, her character in GMA’s Little Nanay—cute, perky, and always smiling.

“I liked portraying Tinay,” Kris shares of her role in the 2016 drama series. “It humbled me and made me more compassionate towards people with learning disabilities…plus we share the same sunny personality.” If anything, portraying most of the roles given to her since she debuted in show business a decade ago—wholesome, teeny-bopper, and meek—was a breeze. “It’s just now that I am starting to fit into more mature roles,” Kris says. “I think now is the perfect time.”

And this FHM outing is a clear indication. 

“GAME!” KRIS EXCLAIMS AFTER OVER AN HOUR in the makeup chair. It was time to start the daylong photo shoot. This time, vacationers turned their heads to her when she got out of the holding area. She was glistening against the very hot noontime sun. She was now in a white bikini, and although still pixie-like standing barefoot in the sand, Kris had a different air to her. It was not arrogance, just an unapologetic flair of confidence.