Bretman Rock is a Filipino-American beauty influencer and social media personality who built a $7 million empire by combining makeup tutorials with unfiltered humor. Born in the Philippines and raised in Hawaii, he became the first openly gay man on Playboy’s cover and won multiple awards for breaking barriers in beauty content creation.
Rock rose to fame in 2015 when his contouring video went viral, launching him into a career that spans YouTube, MTV reality shows, brand partnerships with major beauty companies, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ and Filipino-American representation. His 35 million combined followers across platforms make him one of the most recognized creators in digital media.
From the Philippines to Hawaii: Early Life and Background
Bretman Rock Sacayanan Laforga was born on July 31, 1998, in Sanchez-Mira, Cagayan, Philippines. His family moved to Hawaii when he was young, settling in Ewa Beach, where he would later attend Campbell High School.
Growing up in an Ilocano family, Rock maintained strong connections to his Filipino roots while adapting to life in Hawaii. His younger sister, Princess Mae, and her daughter Cle,o became regular features in his content. This family dynamic shaped his approach to social media—he never separated his personal life from his public persona. Fans can follow their ongoing adventures on his Facebook page and other platforms.
Rock started experimenting with social media in 2011 on Twitter, posting jokes and short videos. He created his YouTube channel in 2012 but didn’t post actual content until 2015. The platform Vine gave him his first taste of viral success with comedy sketches that showcased his sharp wit and timing.
What set Rock apart from other emerging creators was his refusal to pick a lane. He mixed beauty content with comedy, family moments with fashion, and serious advocacy with ridiculous stunts. This authenticity became his trademark.
The Viral Video That Changed Everything
In 2015, Rock posted a contouring tutorial that exploded across social media. The video combined expert makeup techniques with his distinctive humor and personality. Within weeks, he went from 10,000 followers to over 2 million on Instagram.
The growth didn’t stop. By the end of that school year, more than 10 million people were viewing his posts. This wasn’t luck—Rock had tapped into something the beauty community desperately needed: a male creator who could demonstrate technical skill while making people laugh.
His approach challenged the polished, aspirational aesthetic that dominated beauty YouTube. Where other creators presented perfect lighting and scripted tutorials, Rock filmed in his bedroom with his sister interrupting and his dogs running through the frame. Fans connected with this realness.
The viral success opened doors that Rock used strategically. He signed with talent agencies, started brand partnerships, and expanded across platforms. By 2017, Time magazine named him one of the “30 Most Influential Teens.” Forbes included him in their “30 Under 30 Asia” list in 2018.
Building an Empire Beyond Beauty Tutorials
Rock understood that viral fame fades without evolution. He diversified his content and revenue streams deliberately.
Brand partnerships came fast. Morphe Brushes, ColourPop, Wet n Wild, and Tarte all wanted to work with him. In 2020, he launched an eyewear collection with Dime Optics, releasing six frames that sold out within days. He created his own merchandise line available through Wnrs Market.
But Rock aimed higher than product deals. He wanted media visibility that reached beyond beauty circles.
MTV Reality Show and Mainstream Success
On January 28, 2021, MTV announced “MTV Following: Bretman Rock,” a reality series that would film in Hawaii and feature his family and close friends. The show premiered on MTV’s YouTube channel on February 9, 2021, releasing six episodes that gave viewers an unfiltered look at his life.
The timing was perfect. Audiences craved authentic content during the pandemic, and Rock delivered. The show performed well enough that YouTube Originals signed him for “30 Days With: Bretman Rock,” a documentary series where he survived alone in the Hawaiian jungle for a week.
These projects cemented his status as more than an influencer—he was now a television personality with crossover appeal. In June 2021, MTV nominated him for their Movie and TV Awards in the Breakthrough Social Star category. He won.
Breaking Barriers in Beauty and Media
Rock’s career represents more than personal success. He opened doors for male beauty creators, Filipino-American representation, and LGBTQ+ visibility in mainstream media.
In 2019, he won the People’s Choice Award for Beauty Influencer, becoming one of the first male creators to receive this recognition. Gay Times featured him on their Pride Month cover the same year.
The biggest milestone came in October 2021 when Playboy named him their cover star—the first openly gay man to appear on the magazine’s cover. This wasn’t just representation; it was a statement about changing beauty standards and LGBTQ+ visibility in mainstream publications.
Rock identifies as gay and non-binary, using he/she/they pronouns. He’s consistently used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and Filipino-American visibility. In March 2024, the Hawaii House of Representatives formally recognized his contributions to entertainment and representation.
These accolades reflect his impact. He didn’t just create content—he changed conversations about who gets to participate in beauty culture and who deserves media visibility.
Why He Left the Beauty Community
In 2021, Rock made a surprising decision: he stepped away from beauty content.
He explained his reasoning in a 2023 interview with Them magazine. The beauty community had become a “money industry” full of drama and mandatory apologies. White creators dominated the space, and Rock felt the authenticity that initially attracted him had disappeared.
“White people ruined it,” he said bluntly, referring to how the beauty industry transformed from creative expression into corporate content production.
This wasn’t bitterness—it was strategic disengagement. Rock recognized he’d outgrown the space and no longer connected with beauty influencer culture. While peers chased brand deals in Los Angeles, he was raising chickens in Hawaii.
The pivot didn’t hurt his career. His followers stayed because they followed him, not just his makeup tutorials. He shifted toward lifestyle content, farm updates, comedy sketches, and cultural commentary.
Life in Hawaii: Chickens Over Clout
Rock’s current content barely resembles his early videos. He posts about his chickens, farm life in Hawaii, and moments with friends and family. A TikTok of him strutting through his yard with chickens following him to Doechii’s “Anxiety” got nominated for video of the year at the inaugural U.S. TikTok Awards.
This lifestyle choice separates him from most influencers. He could live in Los Angeles, attend every industry event, and chase maximum visibility. Instead, he chose authenticity over constant content production.
“I don’t relate to a lot of them—especially the L.A. girlies. It’s a lot of talking shit,” he told People magazine in a December 2024 interview about his influencer peers.
His Hawaii base isn’t just a location—it’s a statement about what matters to him. He maintains his Filipino-American identity, stays connected to his family, and lives according to his values rather than industry expectations.
In 2024, Rock entered a relationship with Justice Fester, going Instagram official in June during Pride Month. The couple shared their story—they’d first met years earlier at a nightclub but reconnected when Fester appeared on Rock’s TikTok For You Page. They dated for about a year before announcing an amicable breakup in August 2025.
Rock’s response to the breakup showed his maturity. He confirmed they remained friends and emphasized he wasn’t entering a “self-love era” because he already lived in one.
Current Life and What’s Next
Rock continues creating content for his 19 million Instagram followers and 16.7 million TikTok followers. He’s shifted focus from beauty tutorials to lifestyle content that reflects his actual interests.
Recent partnerships show his evolving brand. He became an ambassador for Beyoncé’s hair care line and was featured in Vogue Philippines. These deals recognize his cultural influence beyond traditional beauty content.
At 27, Rock has already achieved more than most creators dream about. He’s proven you can build a massive platform without compromising authenticity or chasing trends.
His memoir “You’re That Bitch,” published in 2023, offers his unfiltered perspective on identity, success, and self-acceptance. The book became a bestseller, proving his audience wants to hear his voice beyond 60-second videos.
What makes Rock’s career remarkable isn’t just the numbers or awards—it’s how he’s navigated success on his own terms. He entered an industry that didn’t have space for Filipino gay men and created that space himself. He recognized when that industry no longer served him and walked away.
His influence reaches beyond follower counts. Young Filipino-Americans see representation in mainstream media. LGBTQ+ creators have a blueprint for building careers without hiding their identities. Male beauty enthusiasts know they belong in spaces that once excluded them.
Rock’s next chapter remains unwritten, but his pattern is clear: he’ll do what interests him, say what he believes, and maintain the authenticity that built his empire. Whether that’s more reality shows, brand partnerships, cultural commentary, or just living his life in Hawaii with his chickens, his audience will follow.
The kid from Cagayan who went viral with a contouring video transformed into a cultural icon by staying exactly who he was. That’s the real story of Bretman Rock—not just who he is, but what he represents for everyone who refuses to fit into someone else’s box.
