Young stars Alexa Ilacad and Xyriel Manabat are taking on some of their most emotionally demanding roles yet in “Miss Behave,” an upcoming iWant original series that explores the devastating impact of leaked private content, abuse, and victim shaming among students.
Premiering today, June 3, on the streaming platform, the mystery drama is set in a science high school and follows a group of young women whose lives are upended when intimate content is circulated across campus. As they face public humiliation and damaged reputations, they band together to uncover the person responsible for the leaks.
The series stars Ilacad, Manabat, Reign Parani, Andi Abaya, and Rans Rifol, with supporting cast members JC Alcantara, Akira Morishita, Raven Rigor, Zach Castañeda, LA Santos, and Zach Guerrero. It is directed by Ivan Andrew Payawal, one of the creators behind the 2025 iWant hit “Love at First Spike.”
Speaking during a press conference, Ilacad described the project as emotionally taxing because of the difficult subject matter it explores.
“We have to dive so deeply into our emotions. I have to tap traumas I thought I had locked away before. I had to open up so many parts of myself, of my heart, that could be very, very draining to me since we do it so often,” she said.
Ilacad credited Payawal for helping the cast navigate intense scenes and remain grounded throughout production.
“He takes us through the process or the journey of our characters, so we always do it together even when the scene is done. We don't let go easily, especially when it's so real. That's what we try to give, real and raw,” she said.
For Manabat, the project is an opportunity to amplify the voices of people who have experienced public shaming.
“Every scene is a shout for justice, also to the boys who experienced this, to the girls who were left silenced, to those who are still left behind. This is not just for an acting case. This is not just for the story, the script, the series, the show, the project. This is an advocacy,” she said.
Manabat added that the cast approached each scene with the hope of representing people who have experienced similar violations and felt unable to speak up.
Ilacad echoed that sentiment, saying the series was created not only to tell a compelling story but also to give voice to victims whose experiences are often overlooked.
“It's not just for the art. It's also for all the victims. For all the girls and guys, everyone in between who experienced this happening to them, having something important taken away from them, having their voices taken away from them,” she said.
Director Payawal said the series examines multiple forms of abuse, including mental, physical, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse, while balancing heavy themes with dark comedy.
“We don't take our topics very lightly. But our treatment, we really wanted to push a little bit of humor. At the same time, we wanted the victims, or the survivors, to have the last laugh. When we watch this show, I hope that we get that last laugh together with these women,” he said.
Manabat said the show's lighter moments reflect how some survivors process trauma.
“It's a sign of survival wherein you can laugh about what really happened. We're like the thought bubble of the survivors. We're the ones who can say the lines that they never got to say. We're the actions or body language that they never fully expressed,” she said.
Meanwhile, Parani said the cast developed a strong support system while working on the project, a dynamic she hopes audiences will see reflected onscreen.
“This is not only women. It's also men supporting women. Even with all the gaps we have in society, we can close that with ‘Miss Behave,’” she said.
Abaya said the series confronts uncomfortable realities about how society often responds to victims.
“Some victims are not really confident about talking about these traumas because society doesn't accept it the way we expect it to be accepted. These victims were pushed away, they were shamed. So how can they have that safety or peace to confidently share this piece of themselves with other people?” Abaya shared.
She expressed hope that the show will encourage greater understanding and empathy toward survivors.
“I hope that this show will actually encourage people to accept it more, to be a little bit more patient and understanding when it comes to the traumas that we all experience,” Abaya added.
“Miss Behave” premieres June 3 on iWant, with new episodes released exclusively on the streaming platform.
