Newly minted lawyer Gabriel Divina has come to the defense of style icon Heart Evangelista, addressing long-standing criticism about her luxury lifestyle and affirming her status as one of the country’s most influential fashion figures.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Divina—who recently passed the 2025 Bar Examinations—shared his personal experience meeting Evangelista, whom he said he now regards almost as a “sister.”
“Technically, it’s not a joke when I say ‘SISTERS!’ when I talk about Heart Evangelista because the one time I met her, her immediate response to me was ‘mukha tayong magkapatid!’” Divina wrote.
He added, “She’s so funny and sweet,” alongside a side-by-side photo of the two wearing matching leopard-printed coats.
Divina, the son of University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina, who is also the founder and managing partner of Divina Law Office, also appeared to respond directly to critics who question Evangelista’s ability to afford her collection of luxury items.
Referencing content creator and influencer Mimiyuuuh, Divina argued that if influencers like Mimiyuuuh—who rose from poverty and is known to support her family—can afford multiple properties, cars, and high-end bags, then there should be no doubt about Evangelista’s financial capacity.
“Keep in mind, Mimiyuuuh is also an endorser and influencer just like Heart Evangelista, and despite growing up from poverty and being the breadwinner, she’s now able to afford 2 houses, a Makati condo, several cars, Hermes and Chanel bags, and more,” he wrote.
“What makes y’all think Heart Evangelista can’t afford all her luxuries and more?!,” he added.
Like Evangelista, Divina is also known for sharing his outfit-of-the-day (OOTD) posts on social media. Following the release of the 2025 Bar Examination results on January 7, he jokingly shared, “Since I passed the 2025 bar exams, I have more excuse now to buy more Saint Laurent suits hehehehehe,” adding, “Kailangan maging fresh for clients! Charot!”
Evangelista began her career at a young age as a fashion model and actress before evolving into one of the Philippines’ most prominent style and lifestyle influencers. She is now a regular presence at major fashion weeks in Europe and is widely regarded as one of the most powerful Filipino figures in global luxury fashion.
Industry data further support her influence. Studies show that top influencers can earn millions of pesos through Media Impact Value (MIV) generated from luxury brand usage and endorsements. According to Favikon, Evangelista ranks in the Top 8 of the “Top 20 Instagram Influencers in the Philippines in 2026” based on reach, growth, and engagement. Meanwhile, influData lists her as Rank 1 in “Top 20 from Manila on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth.”
These figures, supporters say, underscore Evangelista’s continued dominance in the digital and fashion space—proving that online criticism has done little to diminish her influence or demand as a brand endorser.
