BINI’s Mikha Gets Real About The Pressure of Perfection

Fandoms inherently have their own perception of who their idols are. 

The carefully curated online persona builds up a strong impression of these revered figures who we believe we know. Still, in most cases, there’s a lot more to this than meets the eye, especially in the case of BINI’s Mikha.

As we prepare for our sit-down interview for BINI’s Global No. 1s shoot, Mikha is calm and collected, if not a little broody. Her signature look of fiery red hair matches the subtle glint of her eyes, which clue me in on the fact that something is tugging at her at this very moment. 

“I’m good, but I don’t know [what’s been bothering me],” she tells me.”It’s been hard to sleep at night. I’m just always thinking.”

Upon asking her what’s on her mind, she believes it’s slightly associated with the title she and her fellow members are being honored with today. The weight of being touted as the Philippines’ No. 1 artist for the entire year is an honor that may seem daunting to those whose crown it falls upon — even if it’s also an immense privilege that many artists would die for. “I feel honored, obviously,” Mikha says of the title. “Who wouldn’t be? Even we were surprised to be chosen as the representatives of the Philippines [for this], but it’s also a lot of pressure on us.”

Speaking candidly, she adds further, “I’m going to be honest, it’s also very challenging.”

“To be in this position, I feel like a lot of people would kill to be here,” she continues. “So as much as possible, we want to take this opportunity as seriously as we can, and hone our skills to spread the word about OPM.”

The latter statement itself is no joke whatsoever, given how it’s a well-known fact that BINI’s rigorous schedule is comprised of successive bouts of training, business meetings, various photoshoots, recording sessions, and onstage performances that demand so much time and effort from the ladies of BINI. It stands as a testament to the intense methodology, dedication, and continuous efforts of Mikha and her fellow members, which reflect the same precision akin to similar industries like South Korea’s K-pop scene.

However, with that same level of effort comes a similar level of scrutiny, and not just from the industry. In most cases, it often stems from the fans themselves. “It’s hard because everyone expects you to be perfect,” Mikha mentions, slightly exasperated. 

Now that BINI is in the spotlight, several aspects of their lives have been viewed under a microscopic lens, blurring the lines between their lives as public figures and their private personas behind closed doors. Certain narratives and criticism end up being circulated online, even if there’s little to no truth to what’s being pushed, which ends up doing more harm than good for people like Mikha. 

“Some people criticize you without knowing the whole truth of how this situation turned out, and why this happened, or why does something look like this. So it’s very hard to explain it to them. And even if you do explain it to them, other people will just keep spreading more hate comments to you,” she vents. 

“I try to ignore it as much as I can, but inside, you wonder if maybe there is some truth to it. Because it’s really hard to ignore them, since you can also tell if people don’t like you as much as they did before. Which is alarming. Like, you’ll feel the shift in the vibe, which makes me wonder if that’s how easy people can change their perspective of me. They can just shift how they look at you in a second — whether it’s from a video, photo, or even a tweet that they see. So nowadays, I try not to care as much about such things anymore,” Mikha concludes.

She opens up about a particular instance wherein a number of fans and vigilante netizens were criticizing her as she went out to clubs with friends after work hours. With Mikha at the mature (and legal) age of twenty-one years old, it shouldn’t have been a bigger issue than what some of her fans made it out to be — especially since some of these people themselves were the ones invading her space. “While we [as BINI] do our best to present ourselves authentically onstage and in our music, sometimes I feel like it’s situations like that wherein a lot of people don’t know who we are sometimes.”

“What they see are the videos and photos that strangers take without our consent; it’s just so misinterpreted. That’s why I don’t like it when they take photos and videos of us secretly. Of course, we can’t stop it if I don’t see it. Because I know that other people will misinterpret it, and they will make a big deal out of it. But I’m also really glad also that there are mature Blooms who understand that this is normal — that this is our life,” she continues.

Lately, such instances have led her to distance herself from online platforms such as social media. Mikha jokes that it’s her time to “touch some grass” as she keeps herself busy with BINI’s craft, given that she’d rather use the time to focus on keeping herself grounded amidst the whirlwind of a year they’ve experienced over these past few months. (“[Now] I’m very much in touch with my emotions I think,” she humorously adds.)

“[These days] I don’t post [much] because I feel that I don’t have to share everything that I’m doing,” she states. “I like to keep it guarded. That’s why people don’t know much about me. What they see on social media, that’s like the surface level [of who I am]. It’s really just like a presentation.”

To her credit, she notes how stepping away from heavily using social media has allowed her room to realign her goals as both an artist and an individual. While she still posts from time to time, it’s not something that dictates her life or too much of her time as it once did before. “I think my goal is to just really focus on BINI. But at the same time, I don’t want to stick to one thing. I don’t want to be stagnant in my life.”

“I always want to continue to learn new things, explore different activities, to explore different parts of myself, and get exposed to things that I don’t know anything about yet,” Mikha proudly proclaims. “And I hope that BINI grows with every music release and with us as a family, and I hope we meet new people whether its outside or inside the country. I just feel like I’m learning so much, like I’m on a learning streak. Because I like learning new things, and I like to do new things.”

Even as she keeps an open mind with what lies ahead for both her and BINI, Mikha is quick to note what she’s learned about herself amidst all that’s been happening for her and the group. “While I like keeping myself busy, I actually don’t like schedules. Which is unfortunately a big part of this life,” she jokingly whispers. “But you know what, I’m glad. Because my job in BINI is to observe, listen, and to keep watch. And then the rest of the girls can do the entertaining parts wherein they can just make everyone laugh, and I’ll laugh with them because I love them.”

Throughout the arduous journey that Mikha has overcome as one of the country’s most renowned P-pop idols, she credits her wealth of experience from the group’s training, methodology, and resulting fame as learning lessons for the person she’s become today. 

Her journey as an artist and individual reflects the complexities and challenges that come with being in the public eye. While the world may see only the surface—a poised, talented, fiery-red-haired performer—there’s a deeper, more introspective side to her that often remains hidden from view. 

Her candidness about the pressures of fame, the scrutiny that comes with it, and her desire for personal growth further showcases the resilience and maturity she’s developed over time. And despite the weight of expectations, Mikha remains focused on her craft, constantly learning and evolving, not just as a member of BINI, but as a person in her own right. 

“[With our story], I hope that people can learn that idols shouldn’t be treated like robots,” she states. “I feel like they [fans] need to understand that while we may be idols that you can look up to, we are not robots. Even if you always expect us to be perfect and to be permanently one note, there will still be some times that we will be really imperfect and more of ourselves.”

In many ways, Mikha’s story is a reminder that the idols we admire are more than just the roles they play onstage or online — for they are individuals with their own struggles, dreams, and aspirations, navigating a journey that is as much about self-discovery as it is about success.

Read BINI’s Global No. 1’s digital cover story here.

Photographed by Shaira Luna. Creative Direction by Alannah Mitra. Art Direction by Nicole Almero. Styling by Quayn Pedroso. Makeup by Angeline Tan (Maloi, Mikha, Gwen, & Stacey). Makeup by Theresa Padin (Colet, Aiah, Sheena, & Jhoanna). Hair by July Vito (Stacey, Aiah, Colet, & Sheena). Hair by Cristine Benoman (Jhoanna, Mikha, Gwen, & Maloi). Photography assistants Emelito Lansangan & Albert Calaguas. Styling assistant Renan Pacson. Produced by Mika Cruz.

Featured artwork by Orley Ypon, Blooming Flowers in Pussian (Alcala, Cagayan Valley)