I’VE always been a red lipstick kind of girl,” said Maine Mendoza on her second lipstick collaboration with MAC Cosmetics as #MACMaker.
In 2018, Maine’s first #MACMaker shade was a peachy beige. Everyone had expected a red because her TV character Yaya Dub wore the MAC classic Ruby Woo, resulting in the shade being sold out in Philippine stores.
“Did you at the time avoid red because you were trying to move away from Yaya Dub?” we asked her.
“Yes, that’s it,” said the girl whose red lips and pabebe wave broke the Internet five years ago.
“Yaya Dub was five years ago. I think I’m a different person from who I was then but I still love red lipstick. It was my idea to use red lipstick as Yaya Dub. No one told me to do it.”
It’s known that Maine has been a MAC user even before the first collaboration with the global brand. She has liked other shades such as Velvet Teddy and Taupe but for reds, it’s always been Ruby Woo for her.
For the first collaboration, Maine chose a nude because she wanted something many women would wear. The lipstick, which carried her social monicker @mainedcm, represented her journey from the other half of a loveteam to being on her own as a star, an endorser and influencer. There’s no doubt that Maine could endorse air and her followers would buy it.
With the launch of her first lipstick, Maine became more courageous about her public image. She seemed to stop being so cautious. Because of this, she gained more casual fans, those who liked her for being her.
The second one, still called @mainedcm of course, signifies empowerment. What could be more powerful than a vampy red lipstick that is so red, it is almost burgundy?
“I’m very proud of this red. I’ve always wanted my own red. It’s bold and vampy. It’s something that they can use for parties and special occasions,” said Maine.
Maine is the first #MACMaker to have a second collaboration. She’s also the first to have a matching Lip Glass.
It’s funny that during the interview at that launch of her second MAC collaboration, Maine opened the red lipstick topic with “I don’t know if you know Yaya Dub?” The humility is amazing. I know that some people assume she is standoffish and I will not say this because I am a fan because I am not: Maine is actually very quiet and slightly awkward with people she isn’t comfortable with. With her good friends, she is more relaxed but she is normally shy. Perhaps that’s what people mistake for being standoffish.
Yes, the whole world knows who Yaya Dub is. Maine first gained online fame for her videos on Dubsmash, an app with which “users can choose an audio recording or soundbite from movies, shows, music and Internet trends and record a video of themselves dubbing over that piece of audio” (according to Wikipedia).
After Dubsmash, Maine moved on to the long-running noontime show Eat Bulaga! where she became Yaya Dub who was charmed by a fair-skinned and bedimpled actor named Alden Richards.
Their onscreen love story became everyone’s favorite “reality show” but as with most things, it came to an end. Maine is no longer Yaya Dub but she is still a hot topic online and really, anything she does is still news.
She seems different from when we last interviewed her in 2018. She seems more confident and less nervous. And she is, of course, in love.
We asked what her boyfriend Arjo Atayde likes better on her, nude or red lipstick.
“He actually likes it when I don’t have makeup on. But he also appreciates it when I have makeup on and I’m dressed for an event or going out. Why don’t you ask him?” said Maine.
And we did.
Arjo confirmed that he likes Maine better without makeup. “But she looks good any way. I do appreciate it when she’s made-up too. She looks good in nude or red lipstick. She can carry red really well, I must admit,” he said.
The @mainedcm lipstick and lip glass will be available in stores starting tomorrow. Oh, and you might want to avoid the SM Megamall area as well if you’re scared of traffic because that is where the grand launch will be at 5 pm tomorrow.