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Fascinating Women 2024: Sunnies Girls—Bea Soriano, Martine Cajucom, Georgina Wilson

Get to know how these power women helm one of the country’s most talked about lifestyle brands. Hello Bea, Martine, and George!

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Olivia Sylvia Estrada

<p>Everyone in the physical world and the digital sphere is familiar with what <strong>Bea Soriano-Dee</strong>, <strong>Martine Cajucom-Ho</strong>, and <strong>Georgina Wilson-Burnand</strong>, along with <strong>Eric Dee Jr</strong>. have created with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sunniesstudios/?hl=en" target="_blank">Sunnies Studios</a>. What started as a trending eyewear concept expanded into one of the most in-demand lifestyle brands. They have gone beyond the frame with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sunniesface/?hl=en" target="_blank">Sunnies Face</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sunniescoffee/?hl=en" target="_blank">Sunnies Coffee</a>, and most recently, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sunniesflask/?hl=en" target="_blank">Sunnies Flask</a>. </p><div><br/></div><p>Monthly launches, exciting ad campaigns, and covet-worthy branding strategies don’t deter audiences from keeping up. If anything, the demand increases as the products meet the expectations. Sunnies doesn’t give into the hype, it dictates it. Their quality matches what you see on your feed, and blends into their clients&#x27; needs.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/19ecf2a6-dcac-4db9-9424-c089dd7cd3c2_b-fascinating-women-2024-sunnies-girls.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photographed by MEETKESO</span></span></span></div><blockquote> <em>I think it’s important that when you are lucky enough to be in a place of privilege, you should use your voice to uplift others and make change where you can.<br/></em>-Martine Cajucom-Ho</blockquote><div><br/></div><p>What Bea, Martine, and Georgina have created goes beyond just a successful business story. They prove that there is strength in sisterhood. Martine mentions how she looks to Georgina for guidance, “She gives the greatest life advice on everything, from conflict resolution to financial guidance.” In their way, these three women prove that women supporting one another to be the best version of themselves can slowly change the age-old narratives that constantly plague women. It’s about turning competition into inspiration and cheering for everyone, so no one is left out. </p><div><br/></div><p>On top of that, they prove how women can create their definition of having it all: “All” being different from woman to woman, each one as valid as the next. On setting an example for what women can do outside the home, post their thirties, Bea says, “I’m happy to see conversations more open to discussing how truly different it is to go for career paths for women.” It’s not about “acting like a man” when it comes to business, but acknowledging what women can bring. </p><div><br/></div><p>What these sentiments also create is a safe space for women to speak up about their hardships as well. True, women can make it look easy, but, at the same time, their difficulties should be recognized to create a more welcoming work environment.  “It is incredibly emotionally and physically challenging to balance motherhood with a demanding career,” Martine says, doing away with “mommy-shaming” and seeing babies as a hindrance to boardroom achievements</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/58dc5ae2-302e-4ffd-8e6e-643adb90cd07_sunnies girls.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photographed by MEETKESO</span></span></span></div><blockquote><em>I’m happy to see conversations more open to discussing how truly different it is to go for career paths for women.<br/></em>-Bea Soriano-Dee</blockquote><div><br/></div><p>In this Fascinating Women feature, Metro.Style had the privilege to speak with Martine and Bea to reflect on how far Sunnies has come along and in anticipation of what is coming up. Georgina also echoes the same inspiring sentiments expressed by her co-founders.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Metro.Style: How do you decide on what product to make next?</strong></div><p><strong>Bea Soriano-Dee:</strong> We’re observers by nature and our mission is beauty in everyday things. We always notice what people use, and how they use things and then we think about what we can make better and how we can create new ways of experiencing these daily things</p><div><br/></div><p><strong>Martine Cajucom-Ho: </strong>Our product development process is a delicate balance between listening to our intuition and feedback from our market and comparing that with data. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MS: It’s been 10 years since Sunnies Studios started. What has contributed to its success?</strong></div><p><strong>BSD:</strong> We truly like ideation. We have so many ideas in our meetings that we need to slow it down. But, that behavior of wanting to create better things and new experiences is what makes Sunnies what it is. </p><div><br/></div><p><strong>MCH:</strong> I think our greatest strength is our ability to be flexible and creative. We are always listening to our customers and finding new ways we can marry beauty and function in everyday life. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MS: What has been the biggest stumbling block in your process? </strong></div><p><strong>BSD:</strong> I agree that we need more fearless forecasts. We keep selling out of products too soon! </p><div><br/></div><p><strong>MCH:</strong> We seem to always underestimate the demand for our products when we launch! When we launched Sunnies Face, we had inventory for what we thought would last six months—and by how the market responded to the brand, we were forecasted to run out in just a few weeks. The same has now happened with Sunnies Flask—so many colors are selling out quickly and we can’t replenish fast enough for the demand. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MS: How do you stay true to your style amid all microtrends and the constantly changing fashion landscape?</strong></div><p><strong>BSD:</strong> I’m surrounded by really creative people and most creative people are very consistent with their taste. We like what we like. We’ll never put out something in the market that we won’t buy ourselves. </p><div><br/></div><p><strong>MCH:</strong>  We as founders have a strong sense of self as individuals and the Sunnies brand as a whole, so we just focus on that and tune out the microtrends.</p><div> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/18649db9-d256-4278-b5be-8e17f2b69ad6_sunnies girls (2).png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photographed by MEETKESO</span></span></span></div><div><strong>MS: How is Sunnies Studios evolving in today’s ever-changing landscape? What is next for Sunnies Studios in the coming years?</strong></div><p><strong>BSD:</strong>  We never rush into something. It took us another five years to go into a different category, as we started Sunnies Face in 2018. We’re at our own pace and I think that’s what helps us create all these new and beautiful experiences for the things we make. </p><div><br/></div><p><strong>MCH:</strong> We are definitely open to developing more product lines! After the overwhelmingly positive response to the Sunnies Flask, we know our customers are ready and excited for more Sunnies products. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MS: Who are the women you look up to especially when trying to navigate difficult situations? </strong></div><p><strong>BSD:</strong> My mom is one of the strongest women I know. She’s a cancer survivor and just seeing her go through that ordeal with such strength is something that empowers me every time. </p><div><br/></div><p><strong>MCH:</strong> I always confide in Georgina Wilson when it comes to navigating difficult situations. She gives the greatest life advice on everything, from conflict resolution to financial guidance. We’re family but also business partners, so we have a unique dynamic. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/2035c18a-e5c3-4424-af7a-8b655dfa267a_sunnies girls (1).png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photographed by MEETKESO</span></span></span></div><div><strong>MS: What’s the advantage of being a woman in your field of expertise? In what ways do you believe your work has contributed to empowering other women?</strong></div><p><strong>BSD:</strong> Our company is made up of seventy-five percent women and having that kind of soundboard in making products helps us make things that women want. Also, intuitively understanding the life stages of women at work and outside of work helps in improving company policies to complement these life stages.  </p><div><br/></div><p><strong>MCH:</strong> I think as a woman, we generally have an intuitive and emotional understanding of what makes us feel attached to a brand. We started Sunnies Face and our unique color range because no brand existed before that catered to Southeast Asian skin tones. This resonated with women all over the world and made them feel seen. When a group feels spoken to and represented, that is empowering. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MS: How do you use your platform to advocate for issues important to you?</strong></div><p><strong>MCH:</strong> I’ve never been shy to use my platform to express my feelings on social issues and injustices I see in this world. I think it’s important that when you are lucky enough to be in a place of privilege, you should use your voice to uplift others and make change where you can.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MS: How do you envision women&#x27;s leadership roles evolving in the next decade?</strong></div><p><strong>BSD: </strong>I’m happy to see conversations more open to discussing how truly different it is to go for career paths for women. I&#x27;m hoping that those conversations will help make policy changes that cater to our specific needs.</p><div><br/></div><p><strong>MCH: </strong>I think post-girl boss movement, I hope to see more empathy towards mothers in the workplace. It is incredibly emotionally and physically challenging to balance motherhood with a demanding career. I think we are moving in the right direction.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Photo Courtesy of Bea, Martine, and Georgina</em></div><div><em>Photographed by MEETKESO</em></div><div><br/></div>