LKS Beauty and Wellness Corp has officially announced a new chapter in its corporate journey. Founder Wiji Esguerra-Ragasa is stepping forward to assume full leadership over the company’s management, operations, and strategic vision, taking effect November 9, 2026.
The leadership transition coincides with the conclusion of the company’s contract with actress and entrepreneur Kiray Celis, which will officially expire on December 1, 2026. Celis, who served as a partner, CEO, and exclusive face of product lines under the corporate umbrella, elected not to renew her contract to focus on her pregnancy, growing family, and personal priorities.
Born Out of Personal Health Battles
For Esguerra-Ragasa, taking front and center is the natural realization of a venture that began as a personal health project. In 2023, following diagnoses of prediabetes and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), she set out to create functional health beverages tailored to her own needs.
“I wanted to make drinks because I don’t drink water,” Esguerra-Ragasa recalled. “I meddled with drinks back in 2023, collaborating with my friends at Rizal Manufacturing Incorporated. Since my mom is a cancer survivor, collagen and stem cell ingredients were really big for me. It was about creating something that actually worked and improved over time.”
What started as a kitchen formulation quickly expanded. In 2024, corporate management proposed partnering with Kiray Celis to commercialize the formulas using the actress’s high-profile platform. Celis helped brand popular lines—such as “Hello Bloom” and “Hug Babe”—and leveraged her public visibility to scale the brand rapidly across the market.
“We are really grateful to her because she truly helped grow the brand,” Esguerra-Ragasa shared, clarifying that the arrangement was structured as a business-to-business partnership to bring her health formulations to a wider audience.
Clarifying Brand Structure: Transition to VGOTG
Addressing widespread public perception that Celis was the sole corporate owner, LKS legal counsel and management clarified that “Kiray’s Brand” was a specific product line rather than the parent entity. The officially registered corporate entity has always been LKS Beauty and Wellness Corp.
With Celis’s contract ending on December 1, the company will phase out the “Kiray’s Brand” packaging and transition its product lines under the VGOTG brand umbrella.
A Shared Journey of Motherhood
The timing of Esguerra-Ragasa taking full control reflects shared milestones between both women. When LKS was formally organized in mid-2024, Esguerra-Ragasa had just welcomed her own child. Now, as Celis prepares for motherhood alongside her partner Stephan, Esguerra-Ragasa felt it was the right moment to assume full operational command so Celis could step back worry-free.
“I know how it feels, and I know how much they want to start a family. We want them to focus on that,” Esguerra-Ragasa said, emphasizing the management team’s full support for Celis’s next life phase. “Kiray has been an important part of our journey. I am genuinely grateful for the time, commitment, and trust she has given LKS Beauty and Wellness. I respect her decision and wish her nothing but happiness, success, and a safe and healthy delivery.”
Under Esguerra-Ragasa’s direct stewardship, LKS Beauty and Wellness Corp plans to accelerate product development under the VGOTG banner while remaining anchored in its core mission of science-backed wellness solutions born from personal experience.
Watch our interview with Wiji Esguerra-Ragasa below: