Reigning in Manila

Savina wears all vintage and antique textiles from GLORIOUS DIAS. Photography Belg Belgica. **Styling** Jodinand Aguillon.

From accidentally joining a voguing class to winning balls left and right, Savina Rise Mizrahi, our Fall/Winter’24 cover star, is an unstoppable Filipina force to be reckoned with.

Text Angelo Gabriel A. Dionora
Photography Belg Belgica
Styling Jodinand Aguillon

From Hella Pinay 04: The Fashion Issue. Get your copy here.

It’s only fitting to call Savina Rise Mizrahi the belle of the ball(room), as this Dagupan darling—after winning several face and realness categories in balls held in Pangasinan and Metro Manila—is steadily rising as someone to watch out for in the Philippines’ ballroom scene.

We caught up with the 23-year old stunner about growing up in the coastal city of Dagupan, Pangasinan—a major commercial and financial center in Northern Luzon—accidentally discovering the world of voguing, and how ballroom has allowed her to widen her perspectives and see new possibilities for trans women like herself.

Introduce yourself to the world the way you want to. Think Miss Universe!

Masantos ya ngarem ed sikatayun amin (Good afternoon to us all).

I am Khalid Ramadan, also known as Savina Rise Mizrahi. I am a 23-year old Filipino-Sudanese Muslim trans woman from Dagupan, Pangasinan. Currently, I am living in Batangas for work.

**Photography** Belg Belgica. **Styling** Jodinand Aguillon.

Tell me about your upbringing in Dagupan.

Growing up in Dagupan, I got bullied for being dark-skinned and trans. I took it upon myself to build a positive image for dark skin and remind people around me that they shouldn’t discriminate against others because of their skin.

As for my being queer, I grew up around people who would jeer at me whenever I’d pass by them on the streets. They’d shout things like “ay, bakla! Babakla-bakla!” as if they’re seeing something weird.

Today, I’m glad that people are more open-minded toward women like me. I traverse the streets and people just say “hi, bes!” or smile at me. Sure, there are still a few who aren’t up to speed with our redefined standards of beauty and acceptance of queer people, but I’m seeing positive changes day by day.

So how does a darling from Dagupan become the belle of the ball? Tell me about your first encounter with the ballroom scene.

It actually began as a happy accident! Back in October 2022, Sir Jodee (Jodinand Aguillon, Anakbanwa Creative Residency Program Director) and Congressman Christopher “Toff” de Venecia (of the Fourth District of Pangasinan) were holding the second wave of the Anakbanwa Creative Residency in Pangasinan. Our LGBTQIA+ group in our locale was looking for participants for a “modeling” class, and they asked me if I wanted to be part of it. They knew that it has been my long-time dream to become a model.

I remember going to the class in a high-waisted ensemble—a pang-awra look, as we call it. I saw Mother Xyza (the mother of the Philippine chapter of the International House of Mizrahi) there as well. When the session started, we weren’t doing your standard model poses; instead, they were teaching us moves from the “New Way” and “runway” categories of voguing. Apparently, it was a different class altogether!

**Photography** KC Simbajon. **Styling** LUKRESIA.

My body hurt a great deal after the class, but I remember having so much fun as we tried out the different moves. When Anakbanwa eventually organized the first-ever ball we had in Dagupan (the Aralem Ball), I won the face category. This prompted Mother Xyza to encourage and invite me to participate in a Manila-based ball.

When I arrived at the Kalat Ball of the Kiki House of Dirty back in October, I was so starstruck by the people around me: drag queens, Instagram models, and voguers that I had only seen online were now within reach. What I appreciated most with the ballroom scene in Manila was that they were so fun, accepting, and sincere—I never felt a hint of hate or shade. The best part? I won another face category at the ball!

To read the full interview, get your copy of Hella Pinay 04: The Fashion Issue here.

Shot on location at Espacio Creativo Escolta, Manila, Philippines.