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Bretman Rock sparks 2016 nostalgia with throwback photos
Brows on fleek. Liquid matte lipsticks. Bomber jackets. Snapchat.
2016 was a time to be alive — especially for millennials who turned to YouTube for beauty vlogs and makeup tutorials. It was, indeed, the golden era of vlogging.
It was also the year Bretman Rock solidified his name as a social media star. Aside from being one of the most celebrated beauty vloggers at the time, he gained recognition for his relatable and humorous content, particularly alongside his sister, Princess Mae.
On Instagram, Thursday, the Filipino-American content creator sparked nostalgia for the iconic year 2016 by sharing his throwback photos and videos.
In the cover photo of his post, he can be seen posing with his signature 2016 mug: brows on fleek, bold eyeshadow, and nude lips. More importantly, nothing screams the Bretman aesthetic more than a Mandala tapestry as his backdrop.
“2016 was a movie…. A horror movie,” he wrote. “But a movie nonetheless.”
He also shared snaps with Ariana Grande and two of the most-watched beauty vloggers of that era: Patrick Starrr and Manny MUA.
Fast forward to 2026, Bretman remains one of the most relevant social media stars today. While his beauty content has waned in recent years, he continues to share videos about his laid-back lifestyle in Hawaii with his pets, including his chickens.
Bretman was last in the Philippines in 2025. In the same year, he attended the Oscars for the very first time.
—Hermes Joy Tunac/JCB, GMA Integrated News
