Paolo Ballesteros

Paolo Ballesteros is a Filipino actor, TV host, drag artist, and makeup transformation icon who identifies as queer and has become one of the most influential LGBTQ+ entertainers in the Philippines. Known for his extraordinary makeup artistry -- transforming himself into celebrities from Beyonce to Angelina Jolie -- Ballesteros gained international attention through viral social media posts and later through his acclaimed performance in Die Beautiful (2016), where he played a trans beauty queen; the role earned him the Tokyo International Film Festival Best Actor Award. Though he avoids rigid labels, Ballesteros has spoken openly about dating men and living authentically, and his work frequently uplifts queer and trans narratives in Filipino media. As a longtime host of Eat Bulaga! (1979) and a star of films like Born Beautiful (2004), he has helped bring queer artistry into the mainstream, becoming a cultural touchstone for LGBTQ+ visibility in Southeast Asia.