Ruffa Gutierrez

Gutierrez began acting as a teenager in the 1980s, under BMG Films. She became part of German Moreno's variety show That's Entertainment in the early 1990s before becoming a beauty queen in 1993. In December 1990, Gutierrez replaced Snooky Serna for the lead role in Regal Film's Wunder Wuman Plus One, paired with comedian Rene Requiestas.^[1] However, the project did not come to fruition, with Gutierrez and Requiestas instead paired in the 1993 film Hulihin: Probinsyanong Mandurukot.

As the official representative of her country to the 1993 Miss World pageant held in Sun City, South Africa, on November 27, Gutierrez placed second runner-up to winner Lisa Hanna of Jamaica.^[2]

In 1993, Gutierrez was linked to the Brunei beauties affair.^[3] She denied being a prostitute, but she also denied having ever been in Brunei, a statement that was contradicted by evidence.^[4] The next year, she won best actress at the Manila Film Festival for the sexually explicit movie Loretta: The Woman Who Cut Off Happiness. Investigations revealed that she was not the nominee but had plotted to steal the prize in front of the cameras.^[4]

In the late 1980s and 1990s, she did multiple films each year from 1987 to 1998 with Regal Films. She ventured into television again as a regular TV host on the Sunday talk show The Buzz, and then in 2010 with Paparazzi on rival station TV5.

Gutierrez played a supporting role on the 2023 Philippine romantic drama series Can't Buy Me Love.^[5]

In 2022, Gutierrez launched her lifestyle business, Gutz and Glow with product of skin solutions.^[6]

A member of the prominent Gutierrez family, Ruffa is the only daughter of actor Eddie Gutierrez and talent manager Annabelle Rama.^[7] She has five brothers: Elvis, Rocky, Ritchie Paul, and fellow actors Raymond and Richard. She also has two half-brothers, Tonton and Ramon Christopher, from her father's previous relationships.^[7]

In 2003, she married Yilmaz Bektas, a Turkish businessman. They have two daughters, Lorin, who is studying at Pepperdine University in the United States, and Venice. They announced their separation through a joint statement on May 8, 2007.^[8] The annulment was granted on February 24, 2012.^[9]

In 2022, Gutierrez graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Arts from Philippine Women's University and is enrolled in Master of Communication Arts.^[10]

Gutierrez resides in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa.^[11] In July 2022, Gutierrez was accused of dismissing two domestic workers from her residence, which she denied. The workers filed a complaint with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), alleging unpaid wages and other claims. She was ordered to pay the workers a total of ₱13,299.92 (US$233.16).^[11][12]

In June 2024, Gutierrez revealed her serious relationship with Herbert Bautista. They first dated during production of the 2020 Philippine romantic comedy The House Arrest of Us.^[13]