Seven years later, BENCH Body is back. The boldest and sexiest underwear show is set for its biggest stage ever in a new era of sexy this November
How do you bring sexy back? With a new body, a fresh face, and an individual personality to match. After a long seven-year break, BENCH Body returns to the stage. In 2017, the show’s Under the Stars included actors like Iñigo Pascual, Julia Barretto, Ruru Madrid, Gabbi Garcia, Max Collins, and Kathryn Bernardo—wearing designs by Joey Samson, Jerome Lorico, and Banggo Niu—who wowed the crowd. Because who wouldn’t want to be under the stars? The excitement is working out as the sexiest underwear show returns with Body of Work: bigger, bolder, and better.
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What’s the backstage buzz at the casting call for this high-voltage comeback? Hopefuls clamor for their moment, while the backstage team rushes with frenetic activity. Cameras flash, voice memos beep, and the clacking of heels—some sporting Louboutins—mix with the grunts of pumped, exhausted men squeezing in one last push-up to enhance their physiques for the casting process. The atmosphere crackles with electricity, charged with the thrill of competition and the promise of a show-stopping spectacle.
Creative Consultant Noel Manapat shares, “We’re doing this after seven years. It used to be something we could do with our eyes closed, but now it feels like the first time again.” The stakes are sky-high with this grand production, set to take over the country’s biggest venue and intrigue the largest live audience ever seen in a fashion show.
“It’s a lot of work, a lot of anxiety, and a lot of preparation,” he continues. “It takes not just a village but a whole city to make this happen.” With such a colossal undertaking, one thing is certain: the show will be an unforgettable, jaw-dropping event.
In a world that’s evolved dramatically over the past seven years, the BENCH Body show is updating its body with a fresh perspective on inclusivity and diversity. Manapat notes, “The world has changed, and so has the way we see people.”
“It’s no longer just about physicality, but about personality. We want to celebrate everyone’s unique character and how they relate to the world.” It’s a shift from merely featuring the hottest and sexiest to celebrating originality.
For Michelle Dee, who reminisces about her role in the last BENCH Under the Stars, the return is a bittersweet nostalgia trip. “It’s been seven years, and my career has evolved so much since then,” she reflects. “BENCH gave me my first break, and now we’re back, bigger and sexier than ever.”
Dee, fresh from the pageantry world as Miss Universe Philippines 2023, is thrilled about the show’s return. “It’s going to be hot. I’m just excited because it used to be a very much-awaited annual event. I’m sure it’s going to be a show that’s worth watching,” she promises. Her excitement sizzles the high expectations surrounding this comeback.
On the topic of inclusivity, Dee emphasizes, “We’re not just looking for standard models anymore. You want character, charisma, sexiness. Luckily, BENCH Body is very universal.” This inclusive perspective ensures that the runway will include a varied range of bodies, ages, and personalities, honoring the beauty of diversity in all its forms.
Sunshine Cruz notes the intrigue of a show that welcomes all types of people. “Everybody can join, and that’s what makes it so exciting,” she enthuses. “There were so many deserving individuals at the casting call. It’s all about being yourself and enjoying the moment.”
The anticipation is heavy as the return of BENCH Body swells from casting to crew. This is the comeback of individuality, inclusivity, and pure, unadulterated condition. Seven years may have gone by, but what makes BENCH Body irresistible—its conviction, attraction, and exaltation of all things sexy—has returned, bigger than ever.
Photographed by GRANT BABIA
