Kathryn Bernardo Is the Newest Filipino Wax Figure at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong

"Up until today, parang 'di ako makapaniwala na they're going to be creating my twin—my wax figure—soon. I'm really, really grateful and excited," the actress tells Preview in an exclusive interview.

Earlier last August, Kathryn had her measurements taken for her figure, a rite of passage reserved for personalities who've made indelible marks in their respective fields.

In an official press release, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong general manager Wade Chang states, "We value our Filipino market and aim to provide them with an unforgettable experience... Kathryn is an inspiring artist who has worked tirelessly to achieve her success. At Madame Tussauds, we honour excellence with a global impact, making Kathryn the perfect choice for our next Filipino wax figure.”

The wax figure immortalizes Kathryn for generations to see. "It's going to be there forever!" she gushes. She admits that it was particularly tricky to settle on a look, considering how difficult it is to represent her entire body of work. "We needed to choose something very timeless, very 'me,' and something na, you know, 'di nakakasawang tingnan."

It was an intensive collaboration between the artist's camp and the team behind Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. While she couldn't reveal much yet, she did share that they picked a gown and beauty direction that symbolized a kindred moment of hers. "Yung look na makikita nyo, it's [from] one of my biggest milestones as a celebrity. It's a moment na magandang balikan. It's like a reminder [of my] journey bilang artista," Kathryn says.

Hong Kong holds a special place in Kathryn's heart, as it was the setting where she filmed her box-office hit Hello, Love, Goodbye. In her words, "it was the place kung nasaan nabuo si Joy."

"Very special sa akin ang Hong Kong," Kathryn goes on, highlighting how important it is for her to have her likeness in the country. She hopes to inspire her fellow Filipinos who find themselves working as tirelessly as her character once did. "Because Joy is in Madame Tussauds Hong Kong," she quips.

Overall, the actress is overwhelmed with pride to stand alongside the likeness of notable individuals from all over the world. She's still in some state of disbelief to be memorialized this way, considering that she's also the youngest Filipina to be granted the honor. "Nakakatuwa na may representation tayo. I never thought that this would happen, to be honest. Nandoon ako representing the film industry and my fellow Filipinos," she declares.

For any Pinoys who plant to visit her figure, whether as an OFW in Hong Kong or as a visitor, she hopes to bestow some hope. "Sana it will encourage more actors and Filipino celebrities to dream big. Ako nga, sa ilang years ko [sa industry,] 'di ko naman to in-expect," Kathryn says in retrospect.

"It's a really, really good surprise... Hopefully, this will inspire more Filipinos in any way."