HEART EVANGELISTA

Donning some of the season's most glamorous looks and lensed by photographer Ilyes Griyeb, the multi-hyphenate, fashion darling and philanthropist speaks to Vogue Singapore about community, presence and what it truly means to have heart.

Heart Evangelista lights up a room. Currently in Milan for the spring/ summer 2025 season, the Filipino artist, author, advocate and wife—as she fondly puts it in her Instagram bio to an ever-loving community of 16.3 million— is a vision of kindness amid the flurry of Fashion Week. She is contending with a packed schedule as she travels from show to show, yet no matter the time, place or person, she is effortlessly gracious.

At just 39 years old, Evangelista—born Love Marie Ongpauco—is at the top of her game. Under her belt? A reality television show she has just co-produced—slated for launch at the end of October—as well as an ongoing collaboration with the Italian luxury house Dolce&Gabbana. She’s also a fixture in the fashion world—known for her punchy, colourful-meetssophisticated looks—with a tight-knit circle across the style and philanthropic set that she has fostered over the decades. Still, she remains self-effacing.

“After almost 27 years of doing what I love—which is arts, acting and fashion—for me, everything is a bonus. As long as my home, the people I love and my core world are okay, I’m going to enjoy whatever comes my way,” she shares.

At 13 years old, Evangelista—whose grandparents owned the production company Everlasting Pictures—made her acting debut. Since then, the spotlight has expanded beyond the silver screen. The former First Lady of Sorsogon, following her marriage to Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero—who served as the governor of Sorsogon province from 2019 to 2022—Evangelista has steadfastly paved a path for causes she is passionate about.