Yes, Alden & Maine are 2016’s ‘Most Beautiful’

As in the past, some fans will be asking why their idols are not on the list of YES! magazine’s “100 Most Beautiful Stars” this year even they believe their idols rightfully deserve to be “there.”

Well, to paraphrase GMA newscaster Vicky Morales…wish n’yo lang!

AlDub tandem Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza are “it” this year — yes, featured on the magazine’s cover as “The Most Beautiful Stars of 2016.”

Now it can be told: Alden has been dreaming to be on the cover of YES! which has been showcasing the annual 100 choices since 2010.

Even as he held a copy of the magazine, Alden said that he still couldn’t believe it.

“I’ve been a part of the list year after year, but I’ve been wondering, ‘Kailan kaya ako mako-cover dyan?’” he was quoted as saying. “Nangyari na nga!”

Published by Summit Media, YES! first put on the cover Judy Ann Santos on its inaugural “Most Beautiful” issue, followed by the likes of KC Concepcion, Marian Rivera, Kim Chiu, John Lloyd Cruz, Anne Curtis, Julia Montes and Kathryn Bernardo (who shared the cover), Sarah Geronimo and Kris Aquino.

Alden acknowledged that to be given the “title” is a big honor.

“It’s humbling, kasi we started naman simple lang kaming dalawa ni Maine,” added Alden.

“Masaya since it’s my first time to be included on the list, at cover pa kami!” said Maine.

The magazine is released coinciding with the showing nationwide (starting today) of Imagine You & Me, the first solo AlDub starrer filmed in Lake Como and other parts of Italy. The duo’s first movie appearance together was in My Pabebe Love #Kilig Pa More, the 2015 Metro Filmfest entry starring Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas which fought for Top Grosser honors (an issue unresolved up to now, although majority knows the real/true winner).  

Directed by Mike Tuviera, Imagine You & Me marks the first anniversary of AlDub which has been enjoying wide popularity not only on local shores but also abroad where there are Filipino communities. Alden and Maine have never categorically admitted that they are “on” but it doesn’t stop their fans from imagining that, to quote the movie’s title, it’s “you and me.”

In one year since they hit the so-called goldmine, Alden and Maine have appeared in several commercials combined, with Alden solo in 32 and Maine solo in 30. You can just imagine how many millions each of them has raked in in a period of 12 months! Alden has just built a big (his dream) house for his family in Laguna while Maine, wise as she is, must be investing her earnings in business (she comes from a well-to-do family in Sta. Maria, Bulacan).

There are reports (unverified) that the producers of the AlDub movie, APT Entertainment, GMA Films and M-ZET Productions, are rumored to be aiming for a, hold your breath, P1 billion total gross. Imagine, you and me, what a record it would be if the movie did just that!

Incidentally, YES! editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon said, “This is our objective, collective list, borne of our criteria and taste, propelled by our own inner excitement about the people we write about.”

If your idols are not on the list, keep wishing that they would be in the (near?) future.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)