You're That Bitch: & Other Cute Lessons about Being Unapologetically Yourself

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The Ilocano is a bret, este breath of fresh air–funny and fierce, charming and sweet, and never not entertaining. His authenticity and bubbly personality always shine thru. Which is why from doing the humble beauty tutorials that started his vlogging career, he’s now doing everything and is a sought-after influencer and certified celebrity. I’ve been obsessed with Rhuigi [Villaseñor], he’s killing it. But my first introduction to Filipino [designers] was actually Francis Libiran! He designed my prom outfit when I was a junior in high school. Filled with the sort of self-reflection and heartfelt self-help of someone who has processed the challenges of achieving digital fame." — InStyle Magazine The content of "You're That Bitch" is thought-provoking and deeply relatable. It covers a wide range of topics, including self-discovery, relationships, career aspirations, and personal growth. Each chapter delves into different aspects of life and provides valuable insights, practical advice, and relatable anecdotes. The author's ability to convey complex ideas in a concise and accessible manner is commendable, making this book suitable for readers at any stage of their journey.

One of the most memorable chapters is one where Bretman encourages Filipinos to “celebrate our culture, but also question it.” He touches on colorism and the glorification of whiteness at length in his memoir ( “Read the book, period!”), but another aspect of the Filipino mindset that he seeks to challenge is online etiquette. Young queer femmes taking agency over their own image was new and disruptive, and the content creation industry struggled to catch up. “I went through two not-great manager situationships,” he writes. “[One] called me a ‘spectacle’ to my face (and not in a cute way), and sniffed that … my brand would never live on or amount to anything. Hearing those things from someone who was supposed to lead me in my career hurt and had a lasting impact on how I saw myself.”

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I think, when you go to a store, I truly don’t think clothes should be separated by gender! Because sometimes I’ll find, like, skinny jeans from the women’s section and like a big top from the men’s section. The memoir isn’t chronological— it's formed as a series of essays and personal ephemera like photos — and the writing doesn’t often connect the dots of motivations and context. He does note there wasn’t really a lot of Asian American or queer of color representation before Tumblr and YouTube, which helped him start seeing himself in Asian American beauty videos. (In another chapter, he meditates on unlearning colorism, and the desire to be mestiza — a light-skinned mixed person.) When did he realize that he’s already “that b*tch”?“Like oh my God. I’m in the Philippines promoting my book. I’m really that b*tch,” he says. Writing the memoir You’ve really branched out everywhere in entertainment. Is there anything you’re looking to pursue next?

I think it’s chapter 11 and it was talking about how I lost my virginity in Disneyland,” says Bretman when asked what he considers to be the highlight of the book. In the Philippines [before moving to Hawaii], I saw a lot of myself in the superheroes here. Like Lastikman, Gagamboy, Voltes V. I don’t know why! I also saw a lot of myself in Anne Curtis when she was a mermaid. You know that show where she was a mermaid? In addition to the powerful content, "You're That Bitch" is beautifully presented. The book design, cover art, and overall aesthetics enhance the reading experience, making it visually pleasing. It's clear that attention was given to every detail, ensuring a well-rounded and immersive journey for readers. A hilarious romp through his life, from how he became a social media phenomenon at 14 to his hustler spirit and spilling the tea around cancel culture, heartbreak, and lessons on how to love yourself." — Shondaland An unapologetically queer version of the sanitized beigeness of stories like Love, Simon. Compelling...in the relatively small pantheon of queer-of-color coming-of-age memoirs, it’s a unique perspective on emerging as a young public gay figure."I think it was hard to be taken seriously because obviously, I started this when I was seventeen years old, like before I went through puberty you know! Instead of smudging his home with sage, Bretman has been using bayabas (guava) leaves to clear negative energy. He still collects crystals and proclaims himself a textbook Leo, but there is now a delicate balance that guides his rituals. He greets the sun good morning just like his ancestors did. He revels in nature’s gifts, just like that rainbow that hovered over his home that one morning. I’ve seen some people describe it as a love letter to Filipino culture. It’s amazing to see you pushing that on the global stage. I’m very proud of being LGBTQ+ and Filipino, so it’s an honor to be a pretty face for both underrepresented communities. Plus, Asian Americans and Asian immigrants are increasingly facing hate and violence, so I’m passionate about helping create more positive visibility for us— especially for brown Asians—I n entertainment, beauty and fashion. I want to make all of my communities proud— native, immigrant, Filipino, Hawaii.