BB Gandanghari
| BB Gandanghari | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Rustom Cariño Padilla September 4, 1967 Philippines |
| Other names | Rustom Padilla |
| Alma mater |
Saint Louis University, Baguio City University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Actor, model, entertainer, comedian, director |
| Years active | 1990–Present |
| Spouse(s) | Carmina Villaroel (m. 1994–2002) annulled |
| Parent(s) |
Carlos Roy Padilla and Eva Cariño |
BB Gandanghari (English: Ms. Beautiful King, born Rustom Cariño Padilla on September 4, 1967) is a Filipino transgender actor, model, entertainer, comedian, and director. She is the older sibling of actor Robin Padilla and younger sibling of Royette and Rommel Padilla, all of whom are actors. Gandanghari, then known as Rustom Padilla enjoyed success in Philippine films from the early 1990s before taking a hiatus in 2001. She returned to prominence in 2006 when she joined the Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition where she came out after 44 days. In 2009, she revealed she is a transgender woman and changed her name to BB Gandanghari (sometimes spelled BeBe Gandanghari), saying that the person whom the people used to know is already dead.
In an interview, Gandanghari stated the name is derived from the Filipino words Bb. (abbreviation of Binibini, an honorific equivalent to "Miss") and Gandanghari, a portmanteau of the words ganda (beauty) and hari (king), adding that the "Bb." refers to her motto "'Be' all that you can 'be'".
Gandanghari entered show business as a matinee idol and later as an action star. He was also the presenter of Philippine franchise for Wheel of Fortune on ABC 5. After his hosting stint, Gandanghari left the Philippines and studied filmmaking in the United States.
Gandanghari appeared in the film adaptation of the comic book Zsazsa Zaturnnah (her first film role as a gay man) as the gay salon owner Ada (Adrian), the alter ego of Zsazsa Zaturnnah. He appeared in the television series La Vendetta on GMA 7 and the Happy Hearts, later appearing on the ABS-CBN teleserye, Eva Fonda.
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