H.E.R. features Baybayin on her Belle costume for 'Beauty and the Beast' special

H.E.R. paid homage to her Filipino heritage in her “Beauty and the Beast” costume.

Belle’s iconic blue and white village dress was adorned with Baybayin writing on the apron, which was requested by the singer-songwriter herself.

In an exclusive interview with Variety, the special’s costume designer Marina Toybina said, “One day, she called me and said, ‘I want to do something important to my [Filipino] culture." H.E.R. is half Black and half Filipino.

In Marina’s sketch, the apron was plain and in proper textile and cotton. H.E.R. had the idea of adding a ribbon and the designer wanted a bolder detail, and ended up adding Baybayin.

“My friend who is an incredible artist did this, and it spells out ‘Belle’ in ancient Filipino script,” Marina told the magazine.

“There’s a huge history there that I had to learn about the alphabet and how sacred it was. Instead of printing it on, it’s hand-painted," she added.

When H.E.R. was cast as Belle, she said, “I can't believe I get to be a part of the Beauty and the Beast legacy.”

She added, “The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle!”

Filipino actor Jon Jon Briones plays Belle’s father, the inventor Maurice.

Joining the star-studded cast are Josh Groban as the Beast, Martin Short as Lumiere, David Alan Grier as Cogsworth, Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts, Joshua Henry as Gaston, Leo Abelo Perry as Chip, and Rizwan Manji as LeFou. Rita Moreno will be the narrator. —Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News