Richard Juan

Juan ventured into the world of modelling before gaining fame in the entertainment industry. His modelling journey began with part-time modelling for school event posters. Soon after, he made his debut at Philippine Fashion Week: Spring Summer 2014, captivating audiences on the runway.

Juan's modelling career flourished worked with several prestigious brands and events such as Coca-Cola and Adidas. He also graced the pages of notable publications like Candy, Chalk Magazine, Sparkling Magazine, and Garage Magazine.

In 2013, Juan was recognised as on Candy magazine's list of Top 20 Candy Cuties where he was ranked as the 14th Candy Cutie.[8] In 2014, he was part of Chalk magazine's Bright Young Manila Campus Hotties[9] and won the UAAP division.

Juan also scored his first major campaign shoot with SM Youth in early 2015, a brand which he eventually became a brand ambassador[10] of for the next couple of years.

Juan's television career took off when he gained widespread recognition and popularity through his appearance on the highly acclaimed Philippine variety show Eat Bulaga!. In January 2014, the show announced a new segment entitled "You're My Foreignoy," where foreigners, without Filipino blood, living in the Philippines could showcase their love and understanding of Filipino culture. Though Juan was born in the Philippines, he was still eligible to join because he does not have any Filipino blood.

Juan joined the competition during its second week and immediately became a crowd favorite after winning the daily round. His charming and endearing personality captured the hearts of many viewers, earning him the nickname "The Trending Boy" as he trended among the Top Ten on Twitter both locally and internationally during his appearances on the show.

As the competition progressed, Juan faced off against foreigners from different countries, including the rumored ex-boyfriend of Lindsay Lohan, Christian Arno Williams, during the second weekly finals. Though he lost in that particular round, his popularity with the audience led to him winning the Dabarkad's Choice Award (People's Choice Award) for the weekly finals round.

Despite the lost, Juan was invited to compete in the Wildcard Edition and he emerged victorious, earning the title of "Manlalaban". As a Wildcard winner, he secured a spot in the grand finals alongside the first, second, and third weekly winners.

During the highly anticipated "You're My Foreignoy" Grand Finals, Juan unfortunately lost to Gui Adorna, who was crowned the overall winner. Despite not winning the overall competition, Juan once again received the Dabarkad's Choice Award, proving his immense popularity with the viewers. He garnered over thousands of likes on Eat Bulaga!'s Facebook poll, outshining all the other "foreignoys" who competed in the grand finals.[11]

Richard Juan's success in You're My Foreignoy became a pivotal point in his career, opening doors to numerous opportunities in the entertainment industry.

After winning the Dabarkad's Choice Award in You're My Foreignoy, Juan's presence on Philippine television expanded as he became a familiar face on the popular network GMA Network. His charming and engaging personality made him a sought-after guest on various GMA Network shows.

Juan, along with his fellow You're My Foreignoy winners, Gui Adorno and Diego Furoni, appeared on The Ryzza Mae Show where they were interviewed by the show's bubbly host, Ryzza Mae Dizon.

Juan made guest appearances on several shows on GMA News TV also. Among these were Brigada, iJuander, Day Off, and Mars. His versatility and ability to connect with different audiences made him a welcome addition to these programs.

Notably, Richard Juan also took on hosting duties for several Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho segments. His charisma, natural flair and witty banter added an enjoyable element to the audience which led to Juan taking on the role of hosting Dabarkad's Pinoy Henyo segment on the Eat Bulaga! for five months in late 2014 when Juan was still studying.

Through his appearances on various GMA Network and GMA News TV shows, Richard Juan solidified his position as a talented and beloved television personality in the Philippines. His star continued to rise, and his journey in the entertainment industry was only getting started.

In 2015, he joined ABS-CBN's reality show Pinoy Big Brother: 737, the Philippine version of the popular Big Brother franchise, as a regular housemate. During his time in the PBB house, Juan showcased his genuine and down-to-earth nature, earning him the admiration and support of the show's viewers. He remained in the competition until week 17 (day 119), eventually placing in the final 6.

After Pinoy Big Brother, Juan guested on several shows, such as Be My Lady. But during this period, Juan also actively engaged in various social media platforms, using them to connect with his growing fanbase internationally. His YouTube channel, launched in 2016, featured a mix of vlogs, behind-the-scenes footage, and unique collaborations, offering a more intimate glimpse into his life and interests. His popularity on these platforms demonstrated his knack for creating engaging content and resonating with audiences beyond traditional media channels.

Juan's entertainment career took a crucial turn in 2016 when he became part of ABS-CBN Sports + Action's University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) coverage show, "UPFRONT at the UAAP." Introduced in the second half of UAAP Season 78, Juan joined the new male hosts roster, which included Justin Quirino and Marco Gumabao. During his time on the show, he was known for his charismatic and engaging presenting style, contributing to the show's popularity among university sports fans.

Juan's foray into acting began in 2017, diversifying his portfolio beyond hosting and modelling. His first significant role was the male lead in TV5's Wattpad Presents: AFGITMOLFM, a role that showcased his talent for acting. This was followed by a guest star in GMA's Tadhana: Karayom in 2017, which further solidified his standing as an emerging TV personality in the Philippine television industry.

Juan's work wasn't confined to television during this time. He also hosted the backstage show for the 65th edition of Miss Universe in 2017, which gave him an opportunity to interact with international personalities and broaden his hosting experience on a global stage. This event further amplified his visibility and popularity, while his amiable personality and natural hosting abilities were lauded. Juan also inadvertently gained international attention when he photobombed an iconic photo of the outgoing Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach. As Pia took her final walk with arms wide open, donning a regal Michael Cinco gown, Juan's cheerful grin was captured in the background of the shot. The image quickly went viral, leading to Juan being dubbed the "cutest photobomber" of the Miss Universe pageant.[12]

Juan's unintentional photobombing did not end there. He also managed to appear in the background of photos featuring Philippine representative Maxine Medina and the newly crowned Miss Universe, France's Iris Mittenaere. The virality of these photos further propelled Juan into the spotlight, endearing him to both local and international fans.

Because of his strong regional appeal, as well as being able to speak five different languages, Juan was able to extend his influence and professional activities to the international stage, starting in late 2017. His diverse engagements included interviewing the cast of Marvel's "Avengers: Infinity War" during a press tour in Singapore, marking a significant highlight in his career. Juan's interest in the fashion industry also saw him conversing with iconic fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, and in the culinary world, with celebrated Chef Gordon Ramsay. He ventured into the South Korean fashion scene by participating in the Seoul Fashion Week S/S19, during which he collaborated on a special project with the over-the-top (OTT) streaming platform, Viu.[13]

Juan's international career trajectory continued into 2019. He was selected as one of three regional artists to feature in the show "Create My Seoul" produced by TVN Asia. This endeavor had him working alongside prominent Korean celebrities Sandara Park and Joon Park, as they explored and highlighted Seoul's vibrant cityscape. Amidst his broadcasting activities, Juan maintained his connection to the fashion industry, marking his presence at the Paris Fashion Week, where he attended Thom Browne’s runway show.[14]

Because of this, Juan was able to interview, work or meet global celebrities such as Troye Sivan, Ji Chang-wook, Cha Eun-woo, Katy Perry, Blackpink, Mark Tuan, Taylor Hill, BamBam, Jackson Wang, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jason Mamoa, Jung Hae-in, just to name a few.

Despite his global engagements, Juan stayed rooted in his home country's entertainment scene and made his return to Philippine television in late 2019.

Coming off a break from acting, Juan made a prominent return to the Philippine television landscape in late 2019, notably through his role in the popular afternoon soap opera, Love Thy Woman,[15] which aired on ABS-CBN. In the series, Juan took on the character of Richie Tan, a significant role that marked his vibrant reentry into the acting industry after a short interlude. One notable feature of Juan's character, Richie Tan, in Love Thy Woman was his romantic storyline with the Jia, the character played by Kim Chiu. This pairing allowed Juan to not only share screen time with one of the country's most esteemed actresses but also further emphasized his versatility and acting prowess as he successfully navigated this complex and demanding role. This project served as a significant milestone in Juan's acting career, highlighting his ability to adapt to varied and challenging roles.

In a further testament to his versatility, Juan also revisited his roots in reality television later that year. However, rather than participating as a contestant, he took up the mantle of a digital host for the hit reality show Pinoy Big Brother: Connect. As a host, Juan leveraged his previous experience as a reality show participant, combined with his distinctive charm and dynamic hosting style, adding a fresh and engaging perspective to the program. His impactful hosting stint continued into the subsequent season, Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10, in 2021, effectively cementing his dual-role persona in the industry as both an actor and a host.

A significant highlight of Juan's career unfolded in 2022 when he landed his first leading role in a film. He starred in the romantic comedy Connected.[16] The movie featured a star-studded cast consisting of his former co-contestants from Pinoy Big Brother: Connect, including Kobie Brown, Andi Abaya, Ralph Malibunas, Gail Banawis, Chico Alicaya, and Amanda Zamora.[17]

His experience in Connected not only reinforced his acting credentials but also sparked a newfound interest in film. This led him to explore more about the filmmaking process, demonstrating his eagerness to broaden his horizons and dive deeper into the entertainment industry.