Kapag pinag-usapan ang '80s fashion models, hindi puwedeng mawala ang pangalang Bessie Badilla.
Kabilang si Bessie sa mga sumikat na personalidad sa dekadang iyon, dahil hindi lang siya nakilala bilang international and local print and runway model, kundi pati sa telebisyon ay nakilala siya as Tita Bessie sa 1988 sitcom na Eh, Kasi Babae.
Sa naging panayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kay Tita Bessie via Facebook Messenger last August 5, 2025, masayang binalikan ng Pinay supermodel ang biglang pagpasok niya sa pagiging modelo na hindi raw niya naging pangarap noong bata siya.
how Bessie started modeling
"I was born in Tondo and grew up in Makati. Our family moved to Parañaque when I was a teenager.
"All my growing-up years, I never imagined becoming a model. That was never even a dream of mine," pahayag ni Bessie o Maria Blesida Badilla del Castillo.
Nagsimula raw ang modeling career ni Bessie noong sumali siya sa Miss Republic of the Philippines pageant in 1977.
"I was 18 years old. After joining Miss Republic of the Philippines, where I won the title, Miss Visayas (2nd runner-up), I was hand-picked as one of First Lady Imelda Marcos’s 100 Usherettes for the International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB)."
Nauwi raw iyon sa pagiging isa sa mga modelo ni fashion czar Pitoy Moreno at sa kanyang pagiging isa sa legendary Bighani Models ng Hyatt Hotel.
"It was during the convention when Madam Imelda asked me to go to the Folk Arts Theater and look for Pitoy Moreno. Bagong Anyo was being staged that evening, and they needed more models for the show.
"There I met Director Gary G. Flores, who, after the show, instructed me to meet him at the Hyatt’s La Concha and invited me to join the Bighani Models. And the rest is history."
Kung ipapa-describe kay Tita Bessie ang '80s fashion scene: "It was a happy one. Models, designers, and everyone else in the industry mingled together.
"We attended rehearsals, did shows, and worked together. Most of all, we partied, traveled, and made memories together. We were close.
"It was like an exclusive club where members treated each other like family."
Never daw niya na-experience noon ang ma-bully, ma-harass o ma-discriminate dahil sa kanyang trabaho.
"I was never bullied, harassed, or discriminated against. I was lucky I never needed to handle any kind of situation during my modeling career. I maintained my friendliness with everyone, especially with new models."
bessie of La maison de balenciaga
During that era, namamayagpag na sa international fashion runways ang mga Pinay models na sina Anna Bayle, then known as the first Asian supermodel, and Melanie Marquez, who, after winning Miss International in 1979, joined Supermodels of the World in 1986.
Pero si Bessie ay naging first Filipina model na maging house model ng European fashion brand na Balenciaga in 1982.
Kuwento ni Bessie: "After almost a year traveling with the Fiesta Filipina World Tour Group, I decided to stay in Paris and try my luck.
"My friend, Ramon Bilbao, helped me get a go-see with Balenciaga.
"The next day, I arrived in the atelier, but the 'Directeur de Cabinet' was out. Instead, the designer Monsieur Gerard Kunert met me and told me they were looking for blue-eyed blondes (Nordic Look) for the Autumn/Winter Prêt-á-Porter season.
"Not to be turned down easily, I asked if I could fit an outfit from the collection. I told him I just wanted to feel how it was to wear a Balenciaga. He laughed and told me to go to the back, and someone would assist me.
"There were two elderly seamstresses who took one look at me and made me try the dress they were working on. To their surprise, it was a perfect fit on me!
"They called M. Kunert to show him I was a perfect fitting model, a perfect 'Mannequin du Cabine (house model).'"
Agad nga raw na pinapirma ng kontrata si Bessie and making her the only Asian model in the House of Balenciaga.
"M. Kunert right away made me sign a contract for Balenciaga’s Autumn/Winter Prêt-á-Porter defilé! And because I was the only Asian in the show, I was made to come out last after all the Nordic girls in all the numbers.
"I sold the most clothes and instantly became the favorite model of La Maison de Balenciaga. I walked for Balenciaga for eight seasons (4 years), only ending my Paris stint when I got married."
Marami nga raw nakatrabaho na iba pang European designers si Bessie, pero nanatili ang loyalty niya with Balenciaga.
"I walked for Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Nina Ricci, and Hanae Mori. But of course, my favorite is Balenciaga because I felt so special being the favorite.
"Everyone in the atelier was nice and kind. After the Paris Prêt-á-Porter, Balenciaga S.A. would take me to Düsseldorf to do the Igedo, the German Ready-to-Wear Week.
"I became very close with the Directeur de Cabinet Madam Rondon, who became my mentor along with M. Kunert."
tita bessie tries tv
Bigla namang naging household name si Bessie dahil sa pagkakasali niya sa cast ng 1988 hit sitcom ng IBC-13 na Eh, Kasi Babae.
Nakilala siya bilang si Tita Bessie, ang "babaeng bakla" ng show kunsaan co-stars niya sina Gloria Diaz, Janice Jurado, Boboy Garrovillo, Debbie Miller, Tiya Pusit, and Johnny Wilson.
"It was Mr. M, Johnny Manahan, who discovered me while we were filming Pitoy Moreno’s show in L.A. as part of a promo for Philippine Airlines' virgin flight to Los Angeles.
"Mr. M found me funny and a natural. He was the one who cast me in Eh Kasi, Babae, even without any experience in acting!
"Working with Janice Jurado, Boboy Garrovillo, and the late Tiya Pusit made my first TV work an easy one.
"They were genuinely nice and supportive, knowing I was a newcomer.
"We grew to like each other off-screen, and together we built our characters from knowing each other’s personal, funny quirks.
"Many times we would go off script, and Mr. M would just continue filming."
Hanggang ngayon daw ay tinatawag siyang "Tita Bessie" ng mga nakakakilala sa kanya dito sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa.
"It was my co-model and friend, Tess Galang, who actually called me 'Tita Bessie,' and it stuck. It became my name and character in Eh Kasi, Babae.
"Jose Javier Reyes, who was the show's writer, used our real names for our characters except for Janice Jurado, who was called Candy.
"I’m very proud to say I started the fad of calling everyone 'Tita.' Today, I still get a kick when I hear people calling each other with that very gay endearment."
Nagkaroon din daw ng movie offers noon si Bessie. Lumabas siya sa isang French film titled Cinq et la Peau (Five and the Skin) directed by Pierre Rissient, and was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 1982 Cannes Film Festival.
Dagdag pa niya: "I did Brilliante Mendoza’s short film, Ang Camera, which was screened at the 2013 Venice International Film Festival in celebration of the festival’s 70th Anniversary."
TITA BESSIE'S PRODUCER PHASE
Bukod sa pagiging isang model-actress, naging award-winning film producer din si Bessie.
Una niyang na-produce ay ang independent film na Bakal Boys: Children Metal Divers in 2009 na dinirek ni Ralston Jover.
Nanalo ito ng CIPPUTI Award in 2009 at the Torino Film Festival, NETPAC Award at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, and Best Film at the Young Critics Circle.
Nasundan ito in 2015 with Da Dog Show that won best film and best actor (Lou Veloso) at the Young Critics Circle.
Hiblang Abo in 2016 won best film and best supporting actor (Lou Veloso, Jun Urbano, Leo Rialp, Nandong Josef) at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.
Pinrodyus din niya ang 2016 docu-drama, Magdarame: To Suffer With Him, na nag-explore sa paksang suffering, at nag-focus sa concept of enduring pain and hardship with others.
Bessie also produced and starred in a documentary titled Dance of My Life after being hailed as Carnival Queen twice in Brazil in 2008 and 2009.
Nag-premiere ang docu na ito sa Hell's Kitchen New York Film Festival in 2011.
Pinasok din ni Bessie ang pagiging isang music artist by creating "Brinoy," a genre of blending Brazilian music with Filipino lyrics.
Nakapag-release siya ng dalawang albums titled Brinoy (2011) and Brinoy Dois (2013) with 14 songs each.
THE REASON BEHIND BESSIE'S CREATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE PHASE
May dahilan daw kung bakit naging very creative and productive si Bessie noong mga panahon na iyon.
"I became a film producer, singer, and songwriter, Carnival Queen in Brazil, and also a co-founder of the Facebook Group, Come Visit My Philippines, after my husband, Vincente 'Bambi' del Castillo, passed in 2006.
"I did all these while being a mother to my kids.
"I needed to keep myself busy to keep my mind off from our sad loss and my personal battle with thyroid cancer. I have since been cancer-free.
"My two older daughters were away in college, and my youngest daughter was in grade school, the only one I was busy taking care of.
"I was also an active volunteer in her school, aside from doing projects with her.
"I found time to do everything during school breaks, vacations, and even long weekends. I also worked at night until early in the morning.
"My kids were always supportive. They understood everything I was doing kept me sane and kept me fighting.
"Being busy kept my mind active. I was creative and productive, and it helped me to keep on moving forward.
"Time management was key. But the love of my daughters, family, and friends would be my secret strength in balancing my very busy schedule."
Hindi na raw naisip ni Bessie na mag-asawa ulit after Bambi passed.
"Remarrying never crossed my mind. I’m very lucky because I have my family behind me. I was never alone and never lonely.
"Am I still hoping to fall in love again? My answer is no."
being friends with michael cinco
Now at 66, hindi inakala ni Bessie na makakabalik pa siya sa fashion runway. Sunud-sunod ang pagrampa niya sa fashion shows ng Dubai-based Filipino designer na si Michael Cinco na naging kaibigan niya sa pamamagitan ng social media.
"Michael Cinco and I became friends through Facebook. We have a mutual admiration for each other.
"He was only a teenager when he started noticing my work as a model through fashion magazines.
"I was a fan of his work, the ones he posted on Facebook. We exchanged messages on Facebook and developed a friendship across the continents. Michael in Dubai, me in Connecticut."
Noong magbakasyon daw si Bessie and her family in Dubai in 2022, doon na raw ulit nagsimula ang pag-revive ng kanyang modeling career pagkatapos ng apat na dekada.
"My family went to Dubai to visit the Expo in March 2022. Michael hosted a dinner for us, and it was then that he invited me to stay and walk for him at the Dubai Fashion Week.
"It was a big success! Since then, Michael brought me to walk for him in Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Milan, Jaipur, Delhi, Egypt, and the Philippines, aside from walking for all his shows in Dubai.
"I am honored to be called his Eternal Muse at 66 years old, but more importantly, I’m blessed to be called his friend."
the joy of traveling
Ang isang bagay raw na hindi mawawala kay Bessie ay ang kanyang love for traveling.
Since she was 18, nakarating na raw siya sa iba't ibang lugar sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa. Dahil sa kanyang pagbiyahe ay dumating ang opportunities na hindi niya inaasahan.
"I’ve always enjoyed traveling to different countries since I was only 18 years old. I traveled with designers to do shows abroad, and this is when I started to understand the importance of travel.
"After the many opportunities to travel the world as a model, I continued my exploration of different peoples, cultures, architecture, art, and more.
"I get my energy from being curious and constantly finding myself learning from my experiences.
"As of today, I’ve visited 121 countries and I look forward to traveling to many more!"
tita bessie's advice to aspiring models
Bilang Tita Bessie, ano ang puwede niyang i-advice sa mga gustong maging successful na fashion model na tulad niya?
"Modeling is not a glamorous job.
"Don’t be fooled by the photos of models on shiny magazine pages or walking the runway wearing beautiful outfits on social media.
"It is a tough job! A lot of things need to be done to reach a favorable result.
"It is pure hard work. There is also rejection, a lot of it! You need to be patient and resilient."