By Cedie Lazaro
In an era dominated by instantaneous digital fame, the currency of a young woman’s worth is too often measured in algorithm metrics and superficial aesthetic curation. For someone born into a legacy of Filipino entertainment royalty, the path of least resistance for Lorin Gutierrez-Bektas was already paved with flashbulbs. Yet, what happens when a young fashionista born from showbiz royalty decides that the most radical act of modern glamour is not a red carpet walk, but a walk across a university graduation stage?
Moving across the world to Malibu, California in the USA, Lorin deliberately traded the protective bubble of Manila high society for a desk at Pepperdine University. In doing so, she became a case study for a new generation of Gen Z creators: those who recognize that a public platform is fleeting, but an educated mind is an immutable asset.
We sat down with Lorin to unpack her journey through higher education, the matriarchal blue-print of her upbringing, and why true modern independence for women begins where the spotlight ends.
The Behind-the-Scenes Mindset
For someone who naturally attracts the cameras (her mom Ruffa Gutierrez is an iconic actress and beauty queen, both her grandfather Eddie Gutierrez and uncle Richard Gutierrez are a leading matinee idol from their respective generation, and her uncle Mond Gutierrez is a top TV host and fashion fixture in the Philippine scene), Lorin’s choice to study in the USA and finish a college degree away from the spotlight was a pattern-interrupt. She just recently graduated with a college degree in Advertising—a choice driven by a genuine curiosity for the mechanics of marketing and its behind the scenes.
“I took up advertising at Pepperdine University because I’ve always been interested in marketing campaigns, and I wanted to learn a little bit more about how they work behind the scenes,” Lorin explains.
Far from being just an academic exercise, her degree directly fuels her digital career. As a prominent content creator, she views her education as her competitive edge. “I think advertising really connects to what I do with content creation because it gives me a greater understanding of what works, what people want to see, and what makes people want to buy certain products. All of that is really handy when it comes to creating content.”
The Power of Stepping Out
Moving to Malibu wasn’t all picture-perfect sunsets and beach days. It required a massive leap of faith and a direct confrontation with the unfamiliar.
“My experience as a college student was definitely difficult at certain moments,” Lorin admits candidly. “It took a lot for me to go that far out of my comfort zone, moving across the world. However, overall, it was a really fun, great experience that gave me a wider worldview.”
Away from the structured lifestyle of her family home, she faced the classic student hurdles—most notably, accountability. “As a student, I definitely had to overcome some hurdles. I am terrible at time management; that was something I had to learn. Also, college is very different from high school or elementary school in the sense that you’re responsible for your own schedule now. You don’t have your mom screaming at you to wake up and go to school! If you don’t want to go, you really don’t have to go—but it’s gonna be you who fails the class. That was something I had to get used to: just really holding myself responsible for my own schedule.”
When she wasn’t hitting the books or mastering her daily routine, Lorin found joy in the simple, grounding rhythms of student life. “When I was a student, for fun, I would spend a lot of my free time trying new restaurants, hanging out with my friends, and reading books,” she says. “Some of my favorite experiences in university were connecting with some of my favorite professors, meeting friends from all over the world, and growing and challenging myself.”
The Ultimate Style Statement: Education
While social media often prioritizes aesthetic over substance, Lorin is deliberately flipping the script. For her, true influence isn’t about follower counts—it’s about capability.
“I think having a college degree is very empowering—and it’s been more empowering for me than just having a public platform,” she emphasizes. “I think it proves to myself that I can do hard things. I can do difficult things. I woke up every day, I went to class, and knowing that I did it is really empowering because it makes me believe I can face other difficult challenges in life.”
This core belief is something she actively broadcasts to her audience. “I think I use my platform to promote that education is incredibly stylish, just by sharing little bits of my everyday life. Through honest conversations in my Get Ready With Me videos, sharing the ups and the downs, I’ve talked about how it is difficult being an international student and moving across the world, but also how fulfilling it is. Sharing my graduation was exciting for a lot of people who have watched my content for a long time, kind of seeing me grow up. Education is incredibly stylish, and I’m glad if I could help even one person feel that way.”
Indeed, for Lorin, education is one pillar that can strongly build a young woman’s sense of genuine independence, as uni life itself allows you to find yourself as a woman and as a person, and a diploma can literally help you build your career, your financial independence, and future– of course once partnered with hard work and determination.
She notes that education is a weapon of independence that women must claim. “I think women should anchor their independence in education because education is a gift. It allows us to push ourselves, and it allows us access to better resources. Education is a privilege that not a lot of people get. If you have the chance to do it, you should definitely take it. It’s a blessing that unfortunately a lot of women throughout the world do not have access to. And that we should definitely promote taking advantage of that if you have the privilege to be able to do so.”
Matriarchs and Multicultural Roots
Lorin’s fierce sense of self-reliance didn’t appear out of nowhere. It was modeled for her by the women who raised her: her mother Ruffa Gutierrez, and her grandmother, Annabelle Rama.
“My mom is a single mom, and she definitely influenced my views on self-reliance,” Lorin shares proudly. “She showed me that she can lead our household almost as if there were two parents. She can raise two young girls with so much love in a healthy environment—which is difficult in a typical style of family—but she never made us feel different or weird about it.”
From her grandmother, she learned the power of unapologetic authenticity. “My grandma is very outspoken by nature, but I think as a woman, that’s important. It’s important to use your voice and be yourself, even if some people don’t like it. As a woman, it’s important to be outspoken. It’s better than being silenced. If people don’t like you for that, that’s okay, as long as you’re being yourself. A message of being true and authentic self that she embodies.”
Beyond her strong Filipino maternal roots, Lorin has also been exploring the other half of her DNA. Reconnecting with her father, Yilmaz Bektas, has opened doors to a whole new cultural landscape.
“Connecting with my father has definitely allowed me to explore my Turkish identity,” she reflects. “I think it’s interesting coming from two very different ethnic backgrounds, and of course, trying to figure out where you identify and who you are somewhere in the middle. But I think Turkish culture is beautiful. The fact that it’s so different from Filipino culture is beautiful because, again, it’s expanding my worldview, which is always a good thing.”
Love, Friendships, and Everyday Hacks
Through the whirlwind of growing up globally, Lorin finds her emotional anchor in her inner circle. “I think it’s incredibly important to have female friendships as a young woman because they really anchor me. I think my female friends are the loves of my life. I have the most fun with them, they understand me, and it’s amazing to be inspired by wonderful women around you.”
When asked what advice she would give to the generation of girls following her journey, Lorin preaches patience over perfection. “My message to young girls who are still exploring their own version of self-identity would be to be patient. It will come with time. I don’t think there’s a certain finish line where you reach and suddenly you’ve found self-love. It’s a lifelong journey, so be patient with yourself.”
For Lorin, self-love isn’t just a feeling; it’s an action. “I think self-love is discipline. It’s showing up for yourself. It’s proving to yourself that you can do hard things, and being so deeply rooted in who you are that despite good or bad, you can still make the best out of a situation.”
And if you want to channel a bit of Lorin’s effortless confidence in your daily life? She leaves us with her two ultimate, foolproof beauty and style rules:
- The Makeup Must-Do: “An important makeup tip is to really prioritize skin prep. Make sure that the skincare underneath is good so that everything on top lays really nicely.”
- The Go-To Uniform: “My favorite fashion hack is when I’m feeling unsure of what to wear, always just go for a basic tank top—a white one or a black one—and jeans. I feel like that’s my go-to look.”
Spoken like a true independent girl on the way to her modern icon status, Lorin is simple, disciplined, smart, and entirely her own woman.
Production: Stylish Magazine
Concept and Fashion Direction: Marane Plaza
Photography and Shoot Creative Direction: Rxandy Capinpin
Art Direction: Joy Evangelica Agoylo
Styling: Marane Plaza of Stylish Magazine and Gladys Cho of Dress Beyond Manila
Makeup: Lala Flores
Hair: Archie Gilbero
Words: Cedie Lazaro
Special thanks to Ruffa Gutierrez and MK De Dios
Our #StylishPodcast episode featuring our September-October 2025 cover girl Jasmine Curtis-Smith is out. Watch it on Facebook and YouTube.
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