AFTER being shamed for labeling a Charles & Keith bag a designer item, Filipina teen Zoe Gabriel emerged as one of the brand’s community ambassadors, as seen in a new product campaign.
Gabriel rose to fame in January when several TikTok users bullied her online due to one of her videos, where she called a $79.90 Charles & Keith black tote bag a “luxury” item.
READ: Teen gets online hate for calling Charles and Keith a ‘luxury’ brand
The 17-year-old responded to the online hate with a video explaining that she grew up in a family that didn’t have much. She said her family worked so hard to afford some of the items they treasure as luxuries.
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“When I receive things, it’s just my way of showing my appreciation to the giver,” Gabriel explained. “I did not expect this to blow up. But I’m so thankful for everyone who has shown their love and support thus far,” she said.
Netizens praised her kindness and humility.
READ: ‘Kindness is contagious’
C&K campaign
In celebration of women’s month, the Singaporean fashion house released a series of campaign ads featuring powerful women from the different departments of Charles & Keith.
The women from Charles & Keith, including the 17-year-old Gabriel, posed with the brand’s new design, a purple bag called the Alia bag.
This campaign is in support of the United Nations Women’s “Storytelling for Gender Equality” programme.
20% of sales for UN Women program
In a report in the Straits Times, the company said that 20 percent of the sale of the bag would go to the Storytelling For Gender Equality program of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women.
Gabriel also posted the same photo on her personal Instagram page, along with a moving quote that encompasses the beauty and power that women possess.
“Women are like flowers: Our time and needs to grow may not always align, but that is okay,” the Singapore-based teen wrote.
We are like fields of poppy and lakes of lotus – diverse and bold in our differences, beautiful in our own ways.”
Zoe Gabriel
Photo courtesy: Charles & Keith (@charleskeithofficial)
Zoe as brand ambassador
In an interview with republicasia, Gabriel revealed that Charles & Keith offered her the opportunity to become one of the brand’s community ambassadors the first time it reached out to her via email, which was days after the incident on TikTok.
READ: Charles & Keith gives HQ tour to teen slammed for ‘luxury bag’ remarks
However, Charles & Keith asked her to hold off the announcement until the celebration of International Women’s Day.
The offer was actually included in their email invite to their headquarters! After accepting, I was advised to hold off the official announcement until after the IWD campaign, but I’m so excited to be able to share it now”
Zoe Gabriel
The Filipina teen also shared the excitement she felt while doing the photoshoot with the Charles & Keith team.
According to her, although she felt jittery at the beginning of the project, she was able to calm her nerves because the team was patient and accommodating to her needs.
“It was a little nerve-racking at first. I enjoy photoshoots but I’ve never done it in a professional setting before, so it was a first for me,” said Zoe.
“The experience was actually really fun, though! The creative team was really patient and accommodating and even played some of my favorite songs during the shoot,” she added.
What’s next for her and Charles & Keith? When asked about some future plans with the brand, Gabriel refused to spill the beans.
‘Thank you, bashers’
Some netizens were happy with the brand choosing Gabriel as their new ambassador.
“I hope this will be the starting point for her to learn and develop more into a modeling career,” a netizen tweeted.
“Wow! Congratulations to you, Zoe Gabriel, for being the new brand ambassador of Charles & Keith! It pays to be compassionate & humble. Thank your bashers. They brought you there,” another one tweeted.
“Best of luck to the new brand ambassador. I wish you to be successful. Well the teen who got mocked recently now has a bright future. Way to go, Zoe Gabriel,” another netizen commented.
With reports from Toni Tan
Related news:
Teen gets online hate for calling Charles and Keith a ‘luxury’ brand
Charles & Keith gives HQ tour to teen slammed for ‘luxury bag’ remarks
