Ivana Alawi: Dating but not in a relationship

Ivana Alawi has transformed into a modern-day Barbie for the latest campaign of a luxury jewelry brand.

LVNA by Drake Dustin, the brand behind the campaign, received an offer from Mattel five years ago to come up with a Barbie-inspired collection. However, they couldn’t afford to secure the license until last year.

“Five years namin pinag-ipunan,” revealed LVNA (pronounced as Luna) founder Drake Dustin Ibay, adding that this international partnership is good for three years and that they are starting with a trunk collection.

Naturally, the face of the campaign is the company’s first celebrity endorser Ivana.

The actress and content creator is the face of the Barbie-inspired trunk collection of fine jewelry brand LVNA by Drake Dustin.

Like many young girls, the actress and content creator said she’s also a fan of the iconic doll. “It’s an honor and I have loved Barbie since I was a kid. Even the movie, I watched it. I really look up to Barbie,” she shared during a recent presscon.

“When I was growing up, (I felt like) kailangan minsan perfect. But yung napanood ko sa ‘Barbie’ (the movie)... the truth is you don’t have to be perfect because you have to be you. When I watched that movie, I said to myself, ‘What a beautiful storyline.’”

For Drake, nevertheless, Ivana made the perfect endorser for their campaign because “she’s our lucky charm.”

Ivana with the brand's young management team, led by LVNA CEO Drake Dustin Ibay and president Dannielle Louise Ibay (third and fifth from left, respectively).

“Ivana, (she) made LVNA,” Drake told The STAR, explaining: “She started everything. If it wasn’t for the endorsement she did over the pandemic, we would have perished.

“During the pandemic, all of us were uncertain of what’s gonna happen. What gave us the edge, more than the rising value of diamonds and gold, was Ivana’s endorsement of LVNA. That gave us awareness in the Philippine market online…. Because of that, we were able to open a lot of stores.”

He also recalled how Ivana made a trend out of “self-love” rings after she purchased the reportedly P12 million-worth diamond “engagement” ring that she wore for the endorsement photo shoot.

Looking back on that huge purchase, Ivana told The STAR, “Maybe because when I was younger, inaantay ko yung engagement ko. I told myself, 18 years old papakasal na ako, eh wala. I was 25 or 26 na ata nun. Alam mo, ayoko na mag-antay and gusto ko kasi yung malaking ring. Pangarap ko yun since I was collecting smaller rings when I was younger.

“When I wore that in our endorsement shoot, I said it’s so beautiful, kahit wala na akong TF (talent fee), parang this is my dream eh, yung ring na yun. I texted Drake, ‘Gusto ko siya, kasi ang ganda talaga.’

“When you see it and when you fall in love with a piece of jewelry, you can never sleep. Sabi ko, ‘Gusto ko, Drake.’ Sabi niya, ‘Ha? Sure ka?’ Na-in love ako eh. It’s now in my collection and it’s the most special.”

“Start basic. Like, what you will wear every day. The first purchase I made was a ring… (Choose) not naman in carat, especially if hindi pa kaya, but invest in a good stone,” she advised those who are starting to invest in fine jewelry.

Meanwhile, a real-life engagement ring would have to wait as Ivana gamely answered this paper’s question if she found her “real-life” Ken, the male counterpart doll of Barbie.

“Secret,” she responded quickly. “Hindi pa. ‘Di ako sure. I’m dating other people but (hindi ako) I’m not in a relationship.”

Ivana acknowledged that some men might feel intimidated by her independence and ability to buy things for herself. But she believes that relationships shouldn’t be based on material gifts.

“Ako kasi, I believe sa mga relasyon, hindi ka papasok para bilhan mo ako ng ganito or ng ganyan,” she said.

“I can buy myself the diamonds that I want. I can buy myself whatever I want, and that’s why I work hard and that’s why I’m inspired to keep working. Hindi naman ako papasok sa isang relasyon na dun ako aasa. Hindi dapat ganoon,” she further said.

Her type of guy has not changed since she last talked with this paper about the qualities she wants in a future lifetime partner.

She still prefers meaningful conversations and intelligence over attributes like physical appearance.

“Kung walang mapag-uusapan at saka wala naman kwenta, kunwari kung looks lang, ayoko talaga. Dapat talaga may utak,” she said.

She said that she’s been meeting people who are “okay,” meaning they’ve met her standards, and that she’s not being overly selective. Ultimately, she said, she’ll go with whoever her heart chooses.

“Meron naman akong nakikilalang okay and hindi naman nagtataas yung standards ko or whatever. Basta ako, kung kanino titibok yung puso ko, yun na lang.”

For potential suitors, Ivana had this to say: “Don’t be afraid to make the first move. ‘Wag kayo matakot sa babae na feeling mo successful or whatever. You’re enough.”

“Mag-message ka ngayon (Message me now),” she laughingly added.