CLOSE TO HER HEART

Social causes, time with loved ones, self-expression through style, and gold old kaya toast - in our cover story featuring Boucheron, the multi-layered Heart Evangelista tells L'OFFICIEL SINGAPORE what matters to her and how she's finding balance by living her life sans the over-planning

-  IAN LEE

How original, how nonconformist. When we ask Heart Evangelista what's coming next at the end of our interview, the multi-faceted fashion icon replies without hesitation, "I used to have it obsessively planned out, but somewhere along the way I stopped giving a damn about what I'm going to do. It's like when I stopped playing the roles on telenovelas and started to play myself... Plans are not really a part of my game plan. But I'm definitely still manifesting, and I feel like my heart already knows what I truly want."

When we first met Evangelista in early 2024, she was exactly that: refreshing. The first of the crew to arrive at the hotel lobby for a long day of filming in Bangkok, she shook my hand and smiled warmly, introducing herself when I approached the sofa where she was perched. Minutes later, we were engrossed chatting about the weather forecast for the upcoming season of fashion week, and what shows we would be attending. This is why we heart her: unaffected by her successes with no trace of dramas and airs, and always, always fabulously dressed.

Hi Heart! Welcome back to Singapore. You are no stranger to our sunny island. How did you spend your time here before our shoot?

We had kaya toast first! And since we had a full day, you would’ve found me walking around Ion Orchard and Marina Bay Sands. That’s something I love to do whenever I’m in Singapore, just walking around. Oh, and I plan on going to Universal Studios — I’m doing the works!

You are one busy lady. Tell us what you'll be doing after you leave Singapore.