DOMINIQUE COJUANGCO-HEARN

The Collective's Dominique Cojuangco-Hearn talks candidly about what it means to run a game-changing beauty platform, the importance of leading with purpose, and how motherhood changes your perspective

- MARA GO

It is her smile that you notice first, and her sense of humor, second. “I had this custom-made just to make her laugh,” Dominique Cojuangco-Hearn says to MEGA, sweetly, referring to her shirt printed with photos of her mom, Gretchen Barretto-Conjuangco, from the early nineties. And, needless to say, the demands are high for a chance to purchase—pictures are taken, pleasantries are exchanged—all of which have set the right mood for an early call time. “I never knew this had so much potential for it to be her official merch,” she laughs.

Over breakfast, Dominique and I spoke at length about all kinds of things: Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts Manila Tour, MEGA’s Beauty Awards, and of course, her last feature for a magazine. “It’s been a while. A lot has changed. But life is great,” she shares. “I’m enjoying being a wife and mother. It’s amazing how much joy I get out of it. We’re making the most of the little moments as they come and are excited for the future.”

When asked about her self-care rituals, she admits that things changed after she gave birth to her daughter, Penelope. “I’ve had to manage new responsibilities with finding time for myself and time with just Michael and me, but parenthood has strengthened our relationship. Our lives have slowed down, but Penelope has taught us that that’s alright, if not something we need to do more often,” she says.

She adds, “Self-care routines usually take place while Penelope is asleep. I like to keep it simple, but consistent, and find that works best—it doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. I need to make sure my cup is full, so I can show up as my best self for her.”