Francheska “Eska” Lhian: The Freedom to Evolve
Eska Lhian approaches body art with a looseness uncommon in a culture that often demands justification: choosing tattoos and piercings instinctively, and allowing them to reflect the fluidity of her identity.
“It’s not even about the design,” says Francheska Lhian, also known as Eska online. “I feel like it’s beautiful because you wanted it. It’s [about] the intention,” she continues, referring to tattoos.
Eska, a model and a fashion influencer, doesn’t seem to overcomplicate things. She’s spontaneous and sure of herself. She does things simply because she wants to, which is where her power lies. For example? She got a ribbon tattoo because it was trendy at the time, and then she got a constellation tattoo because a tattoo artist offered to personalize it, to which she said ‘yes’ without hesitation.
Jerick Sanchez
But aside from that, she loves how tattoos spark conversation. “It becomes a conversation starter,” she says.
Tattoos aren’t her only form of expression, though. In 2022, at the height of the pandemic, she began experimenting with piercings. “I started piercing myself,” she laughs. She’s had a septum, vertical eyebrow, snake bites, labret, and almost every face piercing you can imagine. Some have closed up since. “I feel like it doesn’t translate to who I am now,” she says.
For Eska, it’s all about evolution, and knowing which parts of yourself to keep, and which to let go.
Art direction by Nicole Almero. Beauty direction by Leira Aquino. Makeup by Lala Flores. Hair by JA Feliciano. Styling by Geno Espidol and Jermainne Lagura of Qurator. Nails by Extraordinail.
