The Philippine Online Chronicles

After being off the radar for almost a year, BB Gandanghari has resurfaced in New York, preparing to take part in New York Fashion Week.

“Mabuting-mabuti siya. Gumaganda, sumeseksi, umaariba,” said actress and Gandanghari's friend Samantha Lopez on the talk show Showbiz Central.

“Sobrang happy niya, haping-happy siya! Napaka-ano niya ngayon, ibang-iba ang aura niya talaga, blooming, as in!” Lopez shared.

The actress, who appears in GMA Dance-serye Time of My Life, said her friend has gotten a lot sexier since she was last seen in the Philippines.

“Ang haba na ng hair niya... basta maganda talaga siya ngayon!” she said. “As in sumeksi siya, siguro may mga five to seven percent body fat na lang siya. Healthy, healthy na pagka-seksi ha!”

Earlier reports revealed that BB had posed for a New York photo exhibit for Pinay fashion designer and photographer Farrah Vlasov.

Rumors also said that BB has already undergone the sex change operation to complete her transformation.

Lopez defended her friend from rumors that BB is in hiding after the media storm over her coming out as a woman.

“Hindi naman sa tinago niya, eh. Don’t get me wrong, ha. Nirerespeto ko ‘yung ano niya na gusto niya ng gano’n. Ibigay na lang natin sa kanya ‘yon, you know.”

The artist formerly known as Rustom

BB, formerly known as action star Robin Padilla's brother, Rustom, went to the US to study fashion design and to model.

Previously known as Rustom, the movie star was then a romantic matinee idol with then girlfriend, actress Carmina Villaroel.

She came out as BB Gandanghari in the 31^st Gawad Urian in 2008 as an award presentor. The name was from her motto “be all that you can be” and a translation of “maiden with the beauty of a king.”

On her transformation, she said, “I just wish people can be happy for me too.”

For BB Gandanghari's photos in New York, click here.