Suit up and get your paddles out, because pickleball is taking over our fitness regimens this year. By now, we all have at least one relative, colleague, or friend who’s caught the pickleball fever and is adamant about making you join in.
No one knows exactly who made pickleball (which, to be fair, has been around since 1965) the latest hot topic in wellness and recreation. Still, the world has welcomed the competitive racket sport with open arms. Even pop superstar Katy Perry “used her pickle powers for good” in 2023 for a pickleball fundraiser that supported children in underserved communities.
Photo: The Pickle Yard, Julie Anne San Jose
We’re seated for pickleball’s global takeover, and Filipino celebrities are no exception. If you need a sign to start playing, look no further. If these celebrities can unleash their inner athletes, transform into certified pickleballers, and join a community-driven sport in style, so can you. Who knows, you might even run into them at your local court!
Catriona Gray
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If there’s one thing this absolute icon has mastered, it’s the art of curating an active, healthy, and posh lifestyle for herself, her loved ones, and her fans. Catriona Gray has found a sport fit for a queen, and we can’t think of a better match. She and Heart Evangelista have practiced some drills on the court, too! And with enough manifestations, you might find yourself playing with them on a random, totally unexpected day.
Anne Curtis
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This diyosa can do it all—hosting, acting, performing, and conquering the pickleball court. Anne has been frequenting the pickleball court since 2024, and it’s about time she influences her long-time showbiz friends to join her in future open plays and tournaments.
In the spirit of community and camaraderie, we’d also love to see Anne and her families from It’s Showtime and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay together on the pickleball court someday. After all, it’s not called a “sport for all ages” for nothing.
Mimiyuuuh
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Social media sensation Mimiyuuuh never backs down from a challenge. On YouTube, she has dipped her toes in various sports that amusingly tested her endurance and stamina. But even outside her online sphere, she’s always on the lookout for new ways to live—to move, travel, explore, and stay active—and this time, pickleball is on her radar. We just hope she stays hydrated while playing, like she always reminds her fans.
Rayver Cruz and Julie Anne San Jose
Photo: Julie Anne San Jose/Instagram
Who said pickleball can’t be a couples’ sport? Rayver Cruz and Julie Anne San Jose are serving doubles domination on the court, and we live for their sporty sides that complement their radiant auras as long-time performers. We can’t wait to see what else the pickleball world has in store for these well-rounded entertainers.
John Prats and Isabel Oli-Prats
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It didn’t take long before John Prats and Isabel Oli-Prats incorporated pickleball terms like dink, kitchen, and volley into their everyday vocabulary. Like most of our peers who’ve found a second home in pickleball, they, too, have picked up a paddle and frequented local pickleball clubs in their free time. Last May, the couple spent an afternoon of open play with their fellow Cornerstone Entertainment artists, including Iñigo Pascual and Sam Milby.
Christian Bautista
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Christian Bautista took a chance on pickleball and already looked forward to another round the following week. You heard it here first—yes, it’s that addictive. But don’t just take the singer and actor’s word for it. We may be walking different paths in life, but most of us (including veteran artists) are still rookies in this widely loved sport and commonplace hobby. If Christian thinks his first attempts are still worth documenting, then there’s no harm in accepting the mistakes and failures that surround a new pursuit.
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What are your thoughts on the rise of pickleball in the Philippines? Share them with us in the comments below!
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