The Cosmo Cover Stars Of 2025 Were Stacked—And Their Best Quotes Went Just As Hard

The year 2025 was a marathon. And we don't know about you, but every month felt like we attained a new high that we didn't expect, nor plan for. Maybe that's a feeling—of constantly surprising yourself with what you can do—everyone goes through when they turn 29. (Yup, that's one of Cosmopolitan Philippines' milestones this year!)

Cosmo's 2025 unfolded across our main covers, Cosmo Crush, Cosmo Couple, Cosmo Up Close, and Cosmo Exclusive, as we explored new ways of telling stories and celebrated what it means to live our best lives now—love, growth, and all.

Each shoot and story was a full-on production, but it was also a reflection of what it means to be humans striving to be and for the best. So, to help you manifest and plan for your year ahead, here's a recap of ALL our covers and special features in 2025 and the new contenders for your mottos for 2026.

Jump to:

• January

• February

• March

• April

• May

• June

• July

• August

• September

• November

• December
  

January often signals new beginnings for lots of people, but for Niana Guerrero, it's also a time to celebrate. Our January cover star celebrated her 19th birthday (and many milestones) with Cosmo this year—but she said she planned to go with the flow and take any opportunity as they come.

Quote to remember: "Strength is confidence… and when you know your values."

Jether Palomo fits the description of gym crush to a T. Our January 2025 Cosmo Crush juggles pageants, modeling gigs, conditioning workouts, and schooling like it's no biggie—so it's no wonder why he took home the title of one of the Century Tuna Superbods 2024 and ended up representing the Philippines in the Mister Global 2025 pageant. He spilled the tea on his workout regimen, how he takes care of himself amidst his busy schedule, and what he wants to do next.

Quote to remember: "'What you're not changing, you're choosing.' In any situation or circumstance, if you don't actively decide to change, you're essentially choosing to stay where you are. This applies to every aspect of life, especially when it comes to health."

For our very first Up Close feature in 2025, we caught up with XO, Kitty star Gia Kim, who plays Yuri in the v Gen Z-coded Netflix show. The actress got candid about how she approached her character, how their experience intertwines, and what she planned (or hoped!) to accomplish in 2025.

Quote to remember: "Follow your heart and learn from the mistakes in that pursuit of following your heart."

It's good to start the year with a bang, right? We didn't just have one, but two(!) Up Close covers in January. For this one, we teamed up with Cebu Pacific to highlight the Inabel fabric of the Ilocos region. We tapped Ilocana beauty queen, community leader, and registered nurse Patricia Bangug, who walked us through the importance of honoring your heritage through fashion and passion.

Quote to remember: "It's empowering to wear something that embodies strength and tradition."

February is the month of love, and traditionally, we've always featured charming male stars or couples who gave us butterflies. But this year, we chose to spotlight a young couple who has consistently proven that love is worth fighting for—even if it means defending each other in the court of public opinion. We're talking about Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and his supportive girlfriend Chloe San Jose, who graciously recounted their love story that encompasses Wattpad-worthy beginnings, LDRs, and strict training schedules.

Quote to remember: "We let each other be our own person, but when people see us together, we're as one."

We like to think of Valentine's Day as our version of Christmas where we play Santa and gift our readers with kilig-worthy covers. And this year, we knew that we couldn't have anyone else to be our Cosmo Crush except Ruru Madrid. The Lolong star showed us why he's love in motion personified—and why love is best shown through concrete actions.

Quote to remember: "For me, every single day is Valentine's Day. Every single day is a heart's day or love day. Lalo na pagka-boyfriend ka or may crush ka or may nagugustuhan ka, dapat every single day pinaparamdam mo sa kanya na mahal kita or maparamdam mo sa kanya kung ano ba yung pagmamahal na kailangan niya."

And we weren't done celebrating love that month. Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado (a.k.a. DenJen), one of the reel-to-real (and exes-to-lovers) couples in the industry, stopped by to grace our first-ever Cosmo Couple cover to recount their trope-filled love story. They had us believing in love even more—but also showed us IRL that one of the best feelings in the world is laughing with your person.

Quote to remember: "Ano mang pagsubok 'yung dumaan, kailangan walang susuko. Mag-asawa na, dapat lagi niyong iintindihin 'yung isa't isa, kahit gaano pa kahirap 'yung problema."

For our next Up Close feature, we sat down with Alicia Hannah-Kim. She shared her experience growing up with a lack of Asian representation in Western media, reconnecting with her Korean roots, falling in love with K-pop (IU and BTS, in particular!), and her first time working with a Korean crew (apparently the on-set catering is bomb!). The actress broke barriers with her role in Netflix's Cobra Kai, but she's excited to see the gap between Korean entertainment and Hollywood is narrowing by the day and the rise of more Asian actors in the industry.

Quote to remember: "I would tell younger actors, especially Asian actors, don't be afraid. There's room for all of us. There's room for the very particular type of Asian that you are, whatever ethnicity you are, whatever you're bringing to the table. We've progressed. We've moved forward. We have space for everyone. Show us what you've got because storytelling is and should be open to everyone."

March (a.k.a. Women's Month) is A Big Deal™ at Cosmo HQ. Not only were we mounting one of our biggest campaigns of the year (check out our Women of Influence roster here), but we were also essentially crowning the woman who has changed lives through her advocacy and her personal values as our headliner. And for us, it was none other than our March cover star Janine Gutierrez, whose work with the World Wildlife Fund, vocal political stance, and intentional approach to her craft has inspired women across the Philippines.

Quote to remember: "Your timeline is yours. Your life is yours. You can choose to do whatever you want with it. I hope you're never swayed by pressure from any external factors. Because at the end of the day, it's your life and your happiness."

Julia Barretto started the summer months strong and brought her bright smile to the Cosmopolitan Philippines cover with the POND's Skin Institute. She candidly shared about her fave spot to escape to (the beach, ofc!), life as a businesswoman (hello, The Juju Club!), and embracing the dream girl energy she's known for.

Quote to remember: "The pressure we put on ourselves is more than enough. Just give yourself some grace, give yourself some time, and breathe."

We continued our Hot Girl Summer with Kyline Alcantara, who fired up our April cover with her fiery personality—and recounted the wins stacking up her current hot streak. The Beauty Empire star divulged how she started pursuing acting, becoming her family's breadwinner, and how life in the spotlight isn't all glitter. It's been a busy journey so far for Kyline, but, she says, staying true to herself has become her biggest accomplishment.

Quote to remember: "It's a lifetime process to really love and respect yourself 'coz there are times where you will really lose that."

If there were streaks, then there were comebacks too. And nobody personified that more than our April Cosmo Crush, James Reid. The singer-actor-entrepreneur sat and chatted with us for his return to primetime teleserye and music—as well as his current wellness rituals and lessons about love.

Quote to remember: "'Stop looking for The One.' Relationships are supposed to be learning experiences, so you can't put that kind of pressure on yourself, especially the other person, that they're supposed to fit this kind of description or role of being The One. You're just meant to learn from relationships."

Chung Ha is one of the top soloists in the K-pop industry for a reason: her songs tell a story and are a reflection of who she is. In our April Cosmo Up Close feature, the singer shared the process of making her album, Alivio.

Quote to remember: "For me, staying authentic means staying true to what I love and what feels right to me. The music I put out has to feel like my music—something I genuinely connect with. If I don't love it, how can I expect anyone else to?"

In their very first cover together, Kathryn Bernardo and Nadine Lustre demonstrated that every girl can claim her crown and spotlight while still being a girl's girl. Once teen actresses pitted against each other, they've come full circle to debunk rumors of rivalry—and gave each other their laurels in this cover made in partnership with Cream Silk.

Quote to remember (Nadine): "Knowing your worth, setting boundaries, choosing peace—even when it's hard—that's real strength. You don't have to be loud to be powerful."

Quote to remember (Kath): "I think there’s something powerful about a woman when she's unapologetically being herself."

Leveling up isn't just for video game characters, but the players behind every move—something that Filipino-German streamer Valkyrae is well aware of. Our May 2025 cover star has worked her way up to where she is now, and it was only possible through grit, patience, and great timing. Now, she's reaping the rewards of her labor by seeing (and hearing) the people who were inspired by her work and journey.

Quote to remember: "Everyone is human, everyone makes mistakes, and being online, whether you’re a content creator or not, can really affect your mental health if you're not prepared for it."

As we closed in on the first half of the year, our June cover star, Sarah Geronimo, took the chance to reflect on her career and where life is taking her next. At this point in her career, she can afford to just coast, but she's driven by the love of music and her craft—and it drives her to become a good mentor to younger talents.

Quote to remember: "We have to pass on what we know, kung ano man yung knowledge that we have acquired through time. And siyempre, i-share mo yun sa next generation."

Marlo Mortel's tween heartthrob days are far behind him, and his rebrand has been a long time coming. Our June Cosmo Crush is ready to take the leap, but it's not a reckless choice. He knows exactly what he wants when it comes to his next move, both in terms of his career and his next relationship.

Quote to remember: "Don't overthink it. Minsan ang dami mong doubts when it comes to being with somebody. At the end of the day, you just have to jump for it. You don't know what's next. You don't know what will happen tomorrow. So I think you really have to grab the opportunity. If you like somebody, then do something about it."

We couldn't pass up wedding month without naming another Cosmo Couple, and it just so happened (😉) that Zeinab Harake and Ray Parks Jr. were tying the knot that month as well! The couple recalled their love story—from meeting during a night out to raising their two kids to navigating an LDR to tying the knot in a picturesque wedding in Tagaytay—and proved that they were truly each other's endgame.

Quote to remember (Zeinab): "Yung effort na hindi mo hiningi pero binigay nang kusa."

Belle Mariano has long been known for playing characters who lead with heart—and that's never been a bad thing. At 23, the actress is a natural fit for roles that embrace softness with unapologetic grace. That same sensitivity defines Belle offscreen, too, which perfectly aligned with our cover with pH Care.

Quote to remember: "Just be genuine. As long as you have the right intentions [and you've entered] something [with] the right heart, I think you [can stay pure to your sense of self]."

First dates are often a mix bag of emotions: you can feel both excited and nervous. But Cosmo's first date with our July Cosmo Crush Choi Bomin was smooth sailing, thanks to his genuine personality and charm. While looking back at his time as an idol, he reflected on how he can challenge himself further—starting with his work on Beauty Empire opposite Barbie Forteza and Kyline Alcantara.

Quote to remember: "I have to always remind myself that I can do this. So, that's what I would tell others. I want to tell them the same: you can do this. It's about having a positive mindset."

This was also the month that Janeena Chan gave us an unfiltered look into her multi-hyphenate life as a host, model, and content creator. She also shares must-know tips for juggling work as a freelancer and how to take care of yourself when you're off the clock.

Quote to remember: "It's so important as a freelancer or as an artist to find or establish structure in their days, because there's not much structure. That's why you really need your own discipline and you have to give yourself your own structure and balance."

When it comes to finding your big break, it's almost always a matter of when. When will the right opportunity come along? When can we finally show people what we're made of? The girls of G22 have been patiently waiting and actively working (read: fighting) to cement their spot in the P-Pop scene. And now? Well, it's now their time to shine—and they're not letting the moment pass.

Quote to remember: "I truly believe and stand by that there's space for everyone at the top. There's not just one number one. There's space for everyone to succeed."

Mika Salamanca was an unexpected revelation. From the moment she stepped into the Pinoy Big Brother house and ended up winning with her duo partner, Brent Manalo, the content creator has been nothing but real. Her kindness truly shown through—but she's ready to show the world more of the different sides of her self outside of the Bahay Ni Kuya.

Quote to remember: "When you love someone, it's not hard to lower your guard and take whatever your partner can give, and offer whatever you can in return."

Brent Manalo came out of the Pinoy Big Brother house as one of the two Big Winners, but that was just the beginning of his winning streak. With the support of his fans and the MikBrent (or BreKa!) community, the actor knows what he wants to do next and he's staying firmly in control.

Quote to remember: "I think love has to be decided. It's not something that's fleeting. As long as you always decide to love each other every single day, every moment you wake up, [it will last.] [Also,] love is very mature. It has to be mature. If it's not mature, I don't think it would last long—or if it would last long, it could be toxic."

Andrea Brillantes has been in the public eye since before she was 10. Now a glowing 22-year-old, she's ready to reclaim her personal narrative—and be the one to dictate what will be shared next, both in her work and personal life.

Quote to remember: "Love is so painful. Natutunan ko yan. Pero natutunan ko [rin] na with the right love, you don't have to disregard yourself or discard anyone. Hindi mo kailangan i-torture sarili mo for love."

What. A. Year. It definitely was for us here at the Cosmo HQ, but for Maris Racal too. She was juggling brand ambassadorships, her Batang Quiapo filming, and promoting her highly acclaimed film, Sunshine, on top of all of this. But in the midst of her busy schedule, she also found the value of slowing down and taking in the "normal" moments—time with her loved ones, time with herself, and time to reflect.

Quote to remember: "I actually set boundaries this year. I learned to say no, and I learned to communicate it properly, not offending anyone. And I don't feel sorry for saying no."