# BB Gandanghari

Binibini Gandanghari (formerly Rustom Padilla; Tagalog pronunciation:; 4 September 1967), also known professionally as BB Gandanghari, is a Filipino-American actress, model, entertainer, comedian, and director.
She is the elder sibling of Robin Padilla and the younger sibling of Royette and Rommel Padilla, all of whom are actors. Gandanghari enjoyed success in Philippine films in the early 1990s (as "Rustom Padilla"), before taking a hiatus in 2001.
She returned to prominence in 2006 when she joined the Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition where she came out as a gay male after 44 days. She would later came out as a transgender woman in 2009 when she adopted her current name and became an American citizen in 2022.

## Career

Gandanghari entered show business as a matinee idol and later as an action star. She was also the presenter of Philippine franchise for Wheel of Fortune on ABC. After her hosting stint, Gandanghari left the Philippines and studied film making in the United States. Gandanghari appeared in the film adaptation of the comic book Zsazsa Zaturnnah (her first film role as a gay man) as the gay salon owner Ada (Adrian), the alter ego of Zsazsa Zaturnnah. She appeared in the television series La Vendetta on GMA and the Happy Hearts, later appearing on the ABS-CBN teleserye, Eva Fonda.
In 2006, Gandanghari became one of the 14 housemates in Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition. On March 2, 2006, she came out as gay on the show. On day 45 of the competition, Gandanghari opted to voluntarily leave the house.
In 2009, Gandanghari hosted the National Kidlat Awards on the resort island of Boracay in Malay, Aklan. She appeared again in SRO Cinema Serye: Rowena Joy. In September 2017, Gandanghari signed with the Brogan Agency in Venice, California.
On 9 August 2019, she made her American television debut in the Netflix series GLOW, where she played a clairvoyant named Patricia in the eighth episode of the series' third season.

## Personal life

Binibini Gandanghari was born Rustom Cariño Padilla in Quezon City to Casimiro Bustamante Padilla, a film director and Lolita Eva (née Cariño) who was also an actress. She has seven siblings: three brothers and four sisters. She, her mother, Robin, and three siblings were raised as Roman Catholics and later converted to the Jehovah Witness religion in 1985.

### Former marriage

Prior to her public gender transition, Padilla married actress Carmina Villarroel in June 24, 1998 in a civil ceremony in Parañaque. Villarroel then filed for annulment within the same year, which was formally granted by the Court of Pasig in June 21 2002. Ultimately, they separated in 1996 and Villaroel filed for annulment in 1998, which was formally granted by the Court of Pasig in June 20, 2002. Villaroel later married Filipino actor Zoren Legaspi in 15 November 2012.

### Gender identity

In January 2009, Gandanghari came out as a transgender woman and chose to undergo gender confirmation surgery. Her brother Robin Padilla at first fully accepted the decision, but later recanted his earlier statements and admitted that he was still shocked and not on good terms with her. Their mother, and all of Gandanghari's other siblings continue to address her by her former male deadname, Rustom.
Gandanghari originally used the name Patricia Padilla but later sourced her newfound name from an art student in University of Santo Tomas whose actual name was Ganda—Hari. She later altered this name which is derived from the Filipino words:
* Bb. — (abbreviation of Binibini, an honorific equivalent to "Maiden")
* Gandanghari — a portmanteau combination of the words ganda (beauty) and hari (royalty, kingship)
She also uses the word "Bb." refers to the saying "'Be' all that you can 'be'".
Gandanghari holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Saint Louis University in Baguio, Philippines and studied filmmaking at University of California Los Angeles in 2010.
The Superior Court of California in Orange County approved both her legal name and gender in 2016. She previously worked as a bookkeeper for a debt collection agency. In 2017, Gandanghari reportedly obtained employment as a driver for Uber and later as a caregiver for elderly in the United States.
In 2022, she became a citizen of the United States while her current name is also recognized on her U.S. passport.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986–1993 | Lunch Date | Herself/host | As Rustom Padilla |
| 1992–1997 | Valiente | Doctor Albert Rosales | As Rustom Padilla |
| 1992–1994 | 17 Bernard Club | Herself | As Rustom Padilla |
| 1993 | GMA Telesine Specials | | As Rustom Padilla |
| 1994 | Spotlight Drama Special | | As Rustom Padilla |
| 1994 | Star Drama Theater Presents: Carmina | Guest Episode title: Magkasuyo | As Rustom Padilla |
| 1997 | Star Drama Theater Presents: Camille | Guest Episode title: Ang Daya Mo | As Rustom Padilla |
| 1997–1999 | Wansapanataym | Various roles | As Rustom Padilla |
| 1999–2000 | Pintados | Doctor Virus | As Rustom Padilla |
| 1999–2001 | Saan Ka Man Naroroon | Alex | As Rustom Padilla |
| 2001 | Wheel of Fortune | Herself | As Rustom Padilla |
| 2007–2008 | La Vendetta | Alfie Camba | As Rustom Padilla |
| 2008–2009 | Eva Fonda | Patricia "Patty" Rosal | As BB Gandanghari |
| 2009 | SRO Cinemaserye: Rowena Joy | Frannie | As BB Gandanghari |
| 2009–2010 | Cool Center | Herself | As BB Gandanghari |
| 2012–2013 | Enchanted Garden | Queen Michiko / Helfora | As BB Gandanghari |
| 2015 | 2½ Daddies | Evangelio "Eva" Pastoran / Gelo Pastoran | As BB Gandanghari |
| 2019 | GLOW | Patricia | As BB Gandanghari |
| 2022 | Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal | Herself/host | As BB Gandanghari |

### Film

* Onyong Majikero (1991)
* Magnong Rehas (1992)
* Narito ang Puso Ko (1992)
* Ngayon at Kailanman (1992)
* Hanggang Saan Hanggang Kailan (1993)
* Kapag Iginuhit ang Hatol ng Puso (1993)
* Gagay: Prinsesa ng Brownout (1993)
* Ikaw (1993)
* Kadenang Bulaklak (1994)
* Brat Pack (1994)
* Hindi Magbabago (1994)
* Mistah (1994)
* Mars Ravelo's Darna! Ang Pagbabalik (1994)
* Marami Ka Pang Kakaining Bigas (1994)
* Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko (1995)
* The Jessica Alfaro Story (1995)
* Maruja (1996)
* Bilang Na ang Araw Mo (1996)
* Paano Kung Wala Ka Na (1997)
* Abuso: Case #6433 (1997)
* Walang Katapusang Init (1998)
* Ganito Na Akong Magmahal (1998)
* May Isang Pamilya (1999)
* Ako'y Ibigin Mo ... Lalaking Matapang (1999)
* Bilib Ako Sa'yo (1999)
* Ganito Ako Magmahal (1999)
* Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure (2001)
* Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, ze Moveeh (2006)
* Happy Hearts (2007)