What makes Bretman Rock so loveable?

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.

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.

Above (Photo: Courtesy of W Talent Management)

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."

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."

Above (Photo: Courtesy of W Talent Management)

There's no doubt that Bretman Rock loves the limelight, and that the limelight loves him right back. Though some may see the entertainment industry as something vacuous, he is not one to share in that identifier. "The media tend to think that I am just pretty and I get a lot of beauty and fashion questions but I truly think I am smarter than that and I feel like I need to be asked business questions like, you know, where did I invest my money, stuff like that," he shares.

As someone who's been filing taxes since he was 16, he is incredibly business minded, and it's this foresight that's allowed him to grow into who he is today. Of course, it doesn't hurt that he's also a jack of all trades. "I just have so much interest in everything," he says. "It just really just came naturally to me because I, even as a little kid, was into like my sister's stuff but I was also into my brother's hobbies. I was always interested in so many things and I think that is what truly feeds my soul." Though he decided to forego university at the moment, there's no doubt that he has plenty to keep him busy.

Above (Photo: Courtesy of W Talent Management)

One may be tempted to believe that they know all about what goes on in Bretman Rock's multi-faceted life, but even as a self-described open book, he keeps plenty of things for himself. "I feel like I could count on one hand how many days I didn't post in my IG story," the star jokes. "But there is something that I do try to keep myself. I would say my love life is something that I try to keep very secret. Bretman deserves his heart to himself."

Though he does reveal plenty of juicy details in his memoir—most notably, how he lost his virginity in Disneyland—his main priority in the publication of his book seems to be representation. You may remember his now-viral speech at the Unforgettable Gala's 20th Annual Asian American Awards where he said, "I always saw myself on TV, so when people say like 'I never saw myself on TV,' girl, change the channel."

For his book, the goal is more clear-cut. "Representation," he says. "I want readers to feel represented in the book. It is my identity, it is who I am, so I am not going to write about like, being Japanese. . . being Filipino is who I am so obviously I am going to write about it."

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Bretman Rock's secrets to success: how to build a business, be a baddie, and write a book