Veteran director Joel Lamangan explores the dark side of pageantry in his new film All About Her, a psychological drama-thriller inspired by a real-life case involving the murder of a beauty queen.
“This film is an exploration of ambition in its most intoxicating and destructive form,” direk Joel said.
The story follows Isabela, played by Yuki Sonoda, and Olivia, portrayed by Kelley Day. Both are described as driven and disciplined, but differ in how they chase success.
“At its core, it tells the story of two formidable women — Isabela and Olivia — whose lives intersect within the ruthless arena of the prestigious Miss Global Philippines pageant.”
“They are alike in intelligence, discipline and hunger. Yet what ultimately distinguishes them is not their ambition, but the manner in which they choose to pursue it,” Joel said.
Isabela, for one, is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
“She understands the machinery behind the crown and makes a conscious decision to play the game on her own terms — even if it means compromising herself,” he said.
“In her relentless pursuit of victory, she crosses moral boundaries, engaging in illicit relationships with judges and franchise powerholders to secure her ascent. For Isabela, the crown is not merely a title; it is validation, power and survival.”
Olivia, meanwhile, takes a more calculated and patient approach, accoding to direk Joel.
“Opposite her stands Olivia — equally poised, equally formidable, but far more strategic. Where Isabela acts with urgency, Olivia moves with patience,” he said.
When Isabela wins and Olivia places first runner-up, this is where the film’s tension escalates.
“When Isabela is ultimately crowned Miss Global Philippines, Olivia becomes the first runner-up—close enough to the throne to feel its weight, close enough to believe it should have been hers. From that moment, the narrative descends into psychological warfare.”
Olivia then begins to quietly retaliate by targeting Isabela’s personal life, including her relationship with William, played by Tony Labrusca.
“Olivia orchestrates her retaliation not through confrontation, but through manipulation. She inserts herself into the life of William… With precision, she feeds him narratives of injustice and betrayal, subtly reshaping his perception of the woman he loves,” the director said.
“Resentment is cultivated slowly, almost invisibly, until it matures into something far more dangerous. In parallel, Olivia presents herself to investigators as a wounded bystander, carefully constructing a version of truth designed to absolve her.”
According to the director, “All About Her” reveals its story piece by piece.
“The film is structured to unfold in layers. Each revelation dismantles the audience’s certainty. What appears straightforward becomes fragile; what seems sincere reveals hidden fractures,” he said.
“The element of surprise is not driven by spectacle, but by psychological depth. When the final truth surfaces, it is less a twist than an unveiling — a confrontation with the cost of unchecked ambition.”
Besides Kelley and Yuki, who are actually real-life beauty queens, as well as Tony Labrusca, the film also features Marco Gomez, Angelica Cervantes, Jim Pebanco and Itan Rosales.
Direk Joel said it’s his first time to work with most of them.
“Working with this ensemble has been both an honor and a privilege… each contributing nuance and gravity to the world of the film,” he said.
He also praised writer and actress Quinn Carrillo.
“I am particularly proud of my collaboration with Quinn Carrillo, a writer of remarkable instinct and boldness. Her storytelling embraces complexity, refusing to render these women as simple heroes or villains. Instead, she presents them as fully realized individuals shaped by desire, ego and the hunger to be seen.”
Aside from pageantry, the film looks at the themes of power and identity.
“Beneath the glamour of pageantry lies a meditation on power — how it is acquired, how it is manipulated and how fragile it becomes in the hands of those who crave it most,” direk Joel said.
“This is not merely a story about beauty queens; it is a psychological drama about identity and entitlement, about the illusion of control, and about the devastating consequences of believing that victory justifies everything.”
“In the end, the crown is only a symbol. The true battle is for dominance—over image, over narrative, and over truth itself,” he added.
Meanwhile, during the presscon, direk Joel confirmed to The STAR that a real-life crime that made headlines, which involved the death of a beauty queen with a policeman suspected as the culprit partly inspired the movie.
Produced by 3:16 Media Network, “All About Her” is part of the ongoing Sinag Maynila film fest headed by Cannes winning director Brillante Mendoza.
