Bretman Rock debuts his new memoir in Manila and shows us the effervescent personality that has won him millions of followers
Truth be told, I was never a fan of Bretman Rock—that is until he came to Manila. I know the many who adore him: the people who worship his wit and follow him through every fashionable ensemble. But before his new book You're That Bitch: & Other Cute Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself came out, he was never really on my radar. So you can imagine my surprise when I found myself becoming heavily invested in his life story.
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He first rose to fame as a beauty vlogger. Today, he enjoys the status of a multi-hyphenate: singer, songwriter, actor, and activist. "And now author," he adds jokingly. There's no doubt that his resume is impressive, but I believe that what draws people to him—and what keeps him relevant—is his personality.
For one, Bretman Rock is incredibly funny. His wit is fast and snappy, but never hurtful. He also radiates positive energy, the kind that comes from people who are immensely comfortable with themselves. "I don't think I have the secret formula [on how to love yourself] because I also grew up with parents who were so confident. My dad had super long hair, my mom ran the streets in the market and so I think just being surrounded by two confident people made me the confident person that I am today," he says. "Confidence just doesn't come to you, it's a result of your environment."
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His warmth extends not just to his friends and family, but also to his followers, from the casual scroller to the many avid investors who have kept up with him online and on TV. "[I think one of my best qualities as a person is that] I love people. Don't tell anyone I said that. But I genuinely do love people and I love talking to people, I love meeting new people," he explains. And though he hesitates to say it himself, he does stay humble by keeping his feet on solid ground.
Successful internationally, it only seems to be logical for him to relocate to LA—or at the very least, to the mainland. But the young star loves Hawaii too much, and the laidback environment of these Pacific islands is what keeps him grounded. "In LA, girl, they were freaking out [over me] and I felt all Hollywood but in Hawaii, I'm not shit. So honestly, I stay [in Hawaii] because of that—and also for my mom's cooking."