Kathryn, Nadine, Heart and fellow Pond’s girls open up about hesitations

MANILA, Philippines — In a world of expectations and double standards, there will always be ups and downs. If you’re a woman, expect the journey to be bumpier.

You can’t help it if doubts and hesitations sometimes set in. But this doesn’t mean you can’t get through it. Take it all in, pause to breathe and set out to live another day.

This is true even for the most beautiful and highly acclaimed female actresses in the country today. They have their triumphs, sure, but they also have their personal struggles.

Take Pond’s celebrity ambassadors Heart Evangelista, Kathryn Bernardo, Nadine Lustre, Gabbi Garcia and Ylona Garcia.

Invited to a sit-down forum on September 4 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theatre, the Pond’s girls talked about their self-doubts and hesitations and how they managed to overcome them.

Here’s what they had to say:

Heart: Break the habit of ‘overthinking’

Heart is no stranger to scrutiny, being in the public eye for decades since her teenage years. She confessed that overthinking became her punishing habit.

She eventually developed a way to face her problem.

“I’ve learned to face the problems head-on, and since then, I’ve become more and more confident because I’ve started figuring out how to react to certain situations,” she said.

She continued, “I choose to step back to find something to do for myself. And I found that the canvas lets me express what I want, an opportunity to make art. My desire for painting made me realize the importance of doing things for myself as a chance to take control of my own narrative.

“Having control of it changes a lot of things: the way you walk into a room, the way you sit, talk, decide—it’s really about total freedom, being yourself and forgetting what the world wants FOR you,” she ended with confidence.

Kathryn: Find growth and support

In Kathryn's recent blockbuster movie "Hello, Love, Goodbye," which saw her paired with Alden Richards, the young actress learned about change and the growth that came with it.

As we all know, Kathryn's reel and real life partner is Daniel Padilla but she finally decided to take on a new partner onscreen. She explained the decision behind this, “It’s about growth. Accept growth. At the end of the day, change is scary, but it is necessary. We learn from it and from that, we grow as people. I always try to improve myself.”

It’s also important to choose to be strong, happy, and in good company.

“It’s okay to be imperfect because people will love you even more. Now I embrace all my flaws, my imperfections—and [the people I love] they still stay with me. Family is really important, they bring out the best in you, cheer you up,” she said.

Nadine: It’s okay to make mistakes

Despite the head-strong and confident aura that Nadine always exudes, there also came a breaking point in her life. It was to break out of her mold which the showbiz industry dictated upon her. She was scared, she worried that she would lose her fans, and worse, her career.

Eventually, she got over the negative mindset.

“I said to myself, whatever, I don’t care what people say about me, I’m just going to go live my life. As long as I’m happy and not stepping on anyone’s toes, I’m good,” Nadine said.

“There’s always contrast. At the end of the day, you won’t know what winning feels like if you’ve never failed in your entire life,” she said.

Ylona: Own your decisions

Only 17, Ylona admitted she’s still going through many changes, as you do when you’re blossoming into a young woman.

“You’re overwhelmed with these emotions: you don’t know who to trust, you don’t know what to do, and you start getting confused at some point,” she said.

But as soon as she realized that everyone is struggling, perfection didn’t seem the most important thing to aspire to.

“Whatever decision you’ll be making you have to accept, and learn to live with, just make sure that when you choose it, it’s what speaks to you. That it’s your truth.”

Gabbi: Rejections shouldn’t hinder ambition

Gabbi had a lot of fears in the industry, having faced many rejections and judgments especially online. That didn’t stop her from reaching her goal.

“You just have to have the mindset to keep going, without letting anyone dictate your life—it’s your life, your rule,” she said adding, “If we comply with the standards of society—beauty, talent—if everyone is the same, then what makes you unique?”

She also emphasized the necessity of having a solid support system.

“I tend to run back to my family and friends who I simply trust and whose opinion I value because theirs are the only ones that matter to me,” Gabbi shared.

Women rising

With these five powerful female celebrities leading the charge, Pond’s has launched the #SeeWhatHappens Campaign. It encourages Filipinas to come out and share their own stories of facing doubts, fears and hesitations. And finally, rising.

The leading face care brand hopes that in recognizing their flaws and imperfections, women can become more accepting of themselves, thereby, leaving doubts and hesitations where they really belong—out of the picture.

For more information on the #SeeWhatHappens Campaign, visit the Pond’s social media accounts at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.