Morena Spotlight: This Morena Wears Her Color Proudly In Honor Of Her Father

Morena Spotlight is a digital series from Allure Philippines that highlights the stories of morenas from all over the country and the Filipino diaspora. Know a morena who deserves the spotlight? Send us an email at [email protected].

Micha Gayle, 25, is a radio DJ and events host from Parañaque City, known to listeners as “DJ Gayle, of Manila’s hottest, Monster Radio RX 93.1.”

There are two things that strike you upon seeing Micha Gayle for the first time. There is her shaved head that she carries with an elegant confidence. And then there is the beautiful deep caramel of her skin. She makes quite the captivating picture that, together with her smooth and velvety voice, keep your eyes glued on her on stage, and your ears trained on her on the airwaves.

She’s the picture of confidence today as she engages her audiences, but the self-assurance was something she had to learn as she was growing up as, in her own words, “the darkest girl in school.”

“I was involved in every speaking engagement possible,” Gayle says of her school days. But even if she was always in front of an audience or speaking into a mic even back then—from declamation contests, theater, school events, and campus radio—she was still known as that “very morena girl always speaking on stage.” “People would do a double take and act concerned about how I was ‘too dark,’” Gayle shares.

Gayle gets her skin color from her father, Mike, a fact she takes much pride in. Her father, Gayle says, has “beautiful dark brown skin. There’s a sense of pride I feel whenever I’m reminded that I look like my dad.” It was, in fact, comforting for her, to grow up with her dad—who looked like her—even if her skin color was somewhat of an issue for others. “My skin color was the least of my family’s concern, yet everyone else seemed to have a comment about it,” she says, going on to share, “My younger sister—who had the complete opposite skin color—would always receive comments about how adorable she was. I don’t remember a time I was called a cute kid by anyone outside my family. I couldn’t help think as a kid that maybe if I had lighter skin, I would receive the same compliments.”

Today, things are different, and something that was once seen as a liability is now an asset. “When I started posting radio content on TikTok, I noticed that people would positively comment on either two things: my speaking voice and my skin tone, and sometimes even both,” Gayle shares. The beauty and cultural landscape, she points out, has changed for the better—and it warms her heart. “And the little girl in me,” Gayle adds.

Below, Gayle talks skin care and morena pride with Allure Philippines.

What’s your skin care routine as a morena? 

I have never missed a day without applying lotion! My general body care has been the same, ever since I was a kid—Johnson’s Baby forever and always—with a few additions like icing my face (and body) after washing and then some.

My routine is as follows:

• Exfoliate with a salt scrub once a week
• Sugar wax once every one to two months
• Body oil once a week (Johnson’s Baby Oil, the pink bottle)
• Lotion every single day after bathing (Johnson’s Baby Lotion, the pink bottle)

I’m still experimenting with different skincare products, but I do like to keep my routine simple.

• Baby soap to cleanse (Johnson’s Baby Soap, the white bar)
• Toner every now and then
• Serums whenever I remember 
• Aloe Vera moisturizer 
• Sunscreen
• A deep cleansing facial every now and then

I recently learned from the Allure Conversations last November 2025 that showering with hot water is not recommended because it strips the natural oils from your skin. I’m so guilty of it, because I religiously shower with hot water. I’m learning and breaking old habits, but it’s nice to learn from industry professionals and have regular conversations about proper skin care.

Any preferred techniques, hacks, or products?

I swear by Johnson’s Baby Lotion! I always get compliments about how soft my skin is, and I credit it to never skipping a day without using Johnson’s Baby Lotion (the pink bottle).

As for comments about how “pantay” my skin is, sunscreen/sunblock during beach days is essential. Aside from what we put on our skin, what we ingest is equally—if not more—important. Drink water! Lots of it!

How about your beauty or makeup routine? Are there particular shades or tricks you apply?

As a morena, I still struggle with finding the right shade that matches my skin. It’s been a lot of trial and error to know which techniques and products work best for me. Here are some of my faves (and shade matches):

• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blurred Matte in 4N Teak
• Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Foundation in 5N2 Cardamom
• Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Concealer in 4N2 and 4C1
• Issy Creme Cheek Bronzer in Blaze
• Ever Bilena Pillow Pop Multi Pot in Toasted Oak
• Huda Beauty Easy Bake Duo in Pink Pumpkin

What do you love about being a morena?

I like to believe that my skin is the best representation of what it’s like to be a Filipino. I love honoring my dad through parading the shade he has passed on to me. Most of all, I love honoring my upbringing—being unapologetic about the sense of freedom I feel pursuing my passions, because of a supportive and accepting household. I value my parents very much. I would not have been as loud in using my voice and parading my shade, if not for them.

Working in media and broadcasting as a radio DJ and events host allows me to share not just my talents, but also my identity with others—hopefully inspiring more women to be unapologetically loud about their passions and being a morena!

One of my mottos in life is “Put the ‘more’ in morena.” Whenever I remember that statement, I feel more excited to just be golden!

I also recently shaved my head… and I’ve never felt so empowered and exposed in my life. Having no hair has allowed me to share more of my skin and my identity with others. In a way, I gave more of myself by doing this, putting “more” in morena.