Gweneth Llaguno Apuli (born June 19, 2003), known mononymously as Gwen, is a Filipino singer, performer, and model. She started out as a model in her home province, Albay. She won first runner-up in the Mr. and Ms. Teen Pacific Heartthrob beauty pageant in 2019. She joined the reality competition show Pinoy Big Brother: Otso on April 7. Her stint lasted until May 5. On June 11, 2021, she debuted as one of the lead vocalists and lead rappers of the Filipino girl group Bini.
Gwen was included in the original soundtrack for the 2024 Filipino romantic comedy series What's Wrong with Secretary Kim. On August 29, 2025, she was also interviewed by Ogie Diaz in an episode of Ogie Diaz Inspires. Since 2024, she has gained significant media recognition for her makeup content.
Early life and education
Gweneth Llaguno Apuli[1] was born on June 19, 2003,[2] in Daraga, Albay, Philippines.[3] Gwen has four brothers and is the youngest of five siblings.[2] Her father died when she was four, leaving her and her siblings under the care of her mother,[4] Malou.[5] According to her friend, actress Barbie Imperial, Gwen grew up in poverty.[6]
Career
2022 and prior: Beginnings, Pinoy Big Brother, Bini debut
Before joining the reality competition show Pinoy Big Brother (PBB), Gwen modeled in Albay.[7] She was the first runner-up in the Mr. and Ms. Teen Pacific Heartthrob beauty pageant in 2019.[2] On April 7, 2019, Gwen was announced as one of the Star Dreamers in PBB's eighth season, titled Pinoy Big Brother: Otso (lit.'Eight'). The show introduced her as the "Beautiful Bunso-weetie ng Albay".[a][8] The Dreamers were a group of teenage contestants who stayed in a smaller house than the main one occupied by the official housemates. They only appeared in the afternoon broadcast, not in the primetime episodes. On April 13, however, PBB announced that all of the Dreamers would become official housemates and move into the main house.[9]
Gwen was eliminated from the show on May 5.[10] Shortly after her exit from PBB, Lauren Dyogi recruited her for ABS-CBN's Star Hunt Academy Program. She trained to become a P-pop idol with the other members of Bini. The group signed a contract with Star Magic in 2021.[11] On June 11, Bini officially debuted with "Born to Win", with Gwen as one of the group's lead vocalists and lead rappers.[2]
2023–present: Growing recognition
Gwen posed for a gothic-themed fashion editorial in the Filipino magazine Parcinq, published on March 18, 2023.[12] Gwen sang "Here With You" with Maloi for the soundtrack of the 2024 Philippine romantic comedy series What's Wrong with Secretary Kim.[13] On August 29, 2025, she was interviewed by Ogie Diaz on his digital talk show Ogie Diaz Inspires.[14] In October, Gwen starred as an audio archivist in the music video for the song "Wasak Na Puso" (lit.'Shattered Heart') by Six Part Invention.[15]
Since 2024, she has also been gaining considerable media coverage for her "remarkable" makeup skills. In May, she started the "Salamin, Salamin" (lit.'Mirror, Mirror') makeup trend on TikTok, which reportedly accumulated more than 37million views (at the time of writing).[16] In October, she uploaded a video of herself applying a makeup look as Pennywise, the evil clown from the 2017 horror film It. The clip earned 10.3million views (at the time of writing).[17] In February 2025, she participated in the "Latina makeup" challenge on TikTok. The Daily Tribune's Ann Jenireene Gomez praised Gwen's ability to "effortlessly slay any beauty trend".[18] On October 31, Gwen posed for a horror-themed photoshoot for Halloween where she did her own hair and styling. In November, the British online magazine &Asian recognized Gwen for her artistry with makeup.[19]
Media image
In October 2024, writer Bianca Custodio observed that Gwen's modeling background was evident in the way she carried herself on the set of her photoshoot with Vogue Philippines. She also identified a bob cut as Gwen's trademark hairstyle.[7] On October 31, 2025, Love at First Spike star Bong Gonzales dressed up as Gwen for Halloween. According to &Asian's Julienne Loreto, this was evidence of Gwen's "flourishing" presence in the media.[20]
↑ Translation notes: "Beautiful Bunso-weetie of Albay". In Tagalog, "bunso" refers to the youngest child among siblings. "Bunso-weetie" is a play on the words "bunso" and "sweetie".
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