Chie Filomeno delivered a tribute to the disco diva herself at this year’s Opulence Ball. Here’s how her makeup artist Angeline Dela Cruz transformed her from Chie to Cher
The Opulence Ball 2024 was a plunge into the velvet underground, where the groove ran deep and style even deeper. But truth be told: no homage to the ‘70s is complete without Cher. With her fearless fashion, commanding stage presence, and decade-defining anthems, Cher is the era. Yet it was still a surprise when Chie Filomeno stepped into the ball as the icon herself given that she’s got everything down to the tee, from Cher’s signature spider lashes and purple lids down to the outfit. Here, Chie’s makeup artist Angeline Dela Cruz reveals how she transformed the actress into a breathtaking tribute to the disco diva.
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Chie Becomes Cher
Chie had a clear vision from the start, and emulating Cher for the ball was her idea. “Right after telling me her peg for The Opulence Ball, that’s when I started creating a board of Cher’s makeup looks. Then, we narrowed it down to her go-to look,” shared Angeline, the hands responsible for many of Chie’s looks in the past. But this time, they certainly took it up a notch.
Since the ‘70s were all about self-expression and experimentation, they infused that same energy into the present by building a more contemporary ideation—a modern Cher, if you will. “We wanted to a modernized take on the look,” the makeup artist added.
Look closer and it becomes increasingly sensical why Chie chose this icon as her muse. Angeline noted that they both possess this natural talent for entertaining and performing, so it only makes sense to emulate her. But if you ask us, it also boils down to their strikingly similar silhouettes, you’d swear they were cut from the same cloth.
The Eye-Conic Look
Angeline took a page from Cher’s unforgettable moments on The Cher Show in the mid-’70s. Her eyes—if not her long pin-straight hair—were the pièce de résistance. “I noticed that her go-to eye makeup was a purple cut crease with shimmer paired with spiked lashes,” shared the makeup artist. She thus did a subtle cut to Chie’s crease to mimic an illusion of a deep-set eye Cher was famous for.
The exact products Angeline used to achieve this Chie-to-Cher transformation
The makeup artist used three different eyeshadow palettes to create that iconic purple eye look, including shades from Ready Set Glow, Dasique, and Pat McGrath. To achieve the spider lashes, Angeline used manga-inspired lashes, which she admitted is her go-to. “I used the Faboulash in L35. I had to cut them up and place them strategically to suit Chie’s eye shape!” With a little eye contouring and some precise snips, she served up a young Cher revival that did the icon justice and had everyone doing double-takes at the ball.
Beyond the Makeup
“This look was really a collaboration between me and Chie,” Angeline fondly shared. When asked how this look compares to the other looks she’s done on Chie, she emphasized the back-and-forth that made it all come together. “It’s a good balance of creativity and beauty.”
Angeline also recalled the brainstorming sessions where the magic began. She loves giving Chie a range of options to pick from, making sure that she feels her absolute best in whatever decision they end up making. “If your client feels good about her look, she will look good,” the makeup artist pointed out.
In an evening full of Cher tributes, it was theirs that hit home. It’s possibly the attention to detail that made it happen, or the careful study of Cher in her prime. Either way, Chie commanded the room as much as Cher did.
Featured Image and Photos: CHIE FILOMENO and ANGELINE DELA CRUZ (via Instagram)
