Newbie Shanaia Gomez on showbiz journey, non-traditional family & pageant plans

Joining Pinoy Big Brother (PBB): Kumunity Season 10 was “literally a dream come true” for Shanaia Gomez. Even if she was not declared the big winner, she was still grateful for having the privilege to live inside Kuya’s house.

She remembered back then when she was just watching the show and aspired that one day she would be part of it.

“I’m really, really grateful that everything happened in God’s good timing. I’ve learned a lot inside the house. I’ve even learned a lot about myself,” she told The STAR in an exclusive Zoom interview. “I’ve learned how to help different people and how to approach different people, especially when they are in times of need and (they are) struggling. Different people have different needs. And there are different ways to comfort them.”

During her stay inside the yellow house, she learned how to eat tuyo with rice. Through Kuya’s tasks, she realized that, “It’s not always about winning. It’s about your mindset. It’s about how you approach the task. Win or lose, you can still be a winner if you choose to see it that way.”

She was also “beyond grateful” to her fans, who supported her all throughout her journey.

Joining Phl showbiz

In 2016, she moved to the Philippines from Canada to give showbiz a try. After auditioning for numerous casting agencies and networks, she landed in a commercial with Ian Veneracion, which made her decide to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

“I was 14. Akala ko madali lang. Akala ko isang show lang, sikat na ako. I was here for five years and didn’t expect how hard it would be. Kaya (I joined) all the castings and learned how to speak Tagalog,” she said.

“During the pandemic, feeling ko wala na po akong pag-asa dito. I just (want to) move back to Canada. Tapos sabi ng mom ko, ‘May isang audition, last audition na ‘to. Shai, please just try for it.’ Sabi ko, ‘Sige nga.’ I have nothing to lose. Why not?” she continued.

It was a call for Rise Artists Studio and Shanaia ended up getting in. “From there, everything just kind of went like super uphill kaya I’m so, so grateful and? things happen when you really less expect (them) po talaga.”

Her dream project would be a romantic-drama comedy. She would love to work with Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (KathNiel) and Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano (LizQuen).

Shanaia’s showbiz crushes are Enrique, Daniel and James Reid. Her first acting gig was Click, Like, Share Season 3’s episode titled Swap, with co-Rise Artist Belle Mariano, which was streamed last Feb. 2 on iWantTFC.

Growing up as performer

Inside the PBB house, the former celebrity housemate wrote a song that “really helped me find my voice.” She would also love to pursue a career in music and revealed that there are some projects for her with Star Music that are in the offing.

Her interest in singing and performing developed at a very young age. “Ako po yung makulit na eight years old na sasabihin ko sa mom ko na, ‘Ma, videotape me and post my covers sa YouTube. I’ll be famous.’ It’s so funny kasi if you actually search deep, deep sa YouTube, I actually have a YouTube video of me performing talaga, a six-year-old me performing Eternal Flame na emote na emote.”

Aside from this, she also came from a family of singers including her mom, who owns a performing arts school in Canada. The 19-year-old newbie and her girl group were tapped as the opening act for Filipino artists and events in Canada like Darren Espanto and a Maalaala Mo Kaya show.

Shanaia previously joined Idol Philippines 2019 and her musical influences include Sam Smith and Jayda.

Living in a non-traditional family

Digging into her “complicated family tree,” the half-Filipino and half-Italian beauty confessed she never met her father. Her parents decided to split up while her Cebuana mom was pregnant with her.

She has an older half-sister, who was the first daughter of her mom and a Filipino husband. Before Shanaia was born, her mother and half-sister moved to Ireland while her stepdad stayed in Cebu but later separated.

This was the time that Shanaia’s mom and biological Italian father would meet in Ireland, “And then they had me. Tapos my mom decided it was better for them to separate,” said she. “Then, my mom would give a second chance to my Filipino stepfather, my ate’s biological father, kasi she doesn’t want people to see na parang (we’re) broken family or something like that.”

Her Filipino stepdad and mother got back together. “And my mom told my biological father na maybe don’t contact us lang po muna. When Shanaia is ready, she’ll reach out to you. So I grew up many, many years thinking I am a full Filipino, thinking that my stepfather is my biological father. People would say, ‘Ang ganda naman ng anak mo. Half ba siya?’ (They would answer) No, I’m full Filipino, you know.”

When Shanaia was eight, she moved to Canada. And this time, her stepfather and mom did separate for good and had their marriage annulled. Shanaia, her mom and sister lived with her mom’s “best friend.” But, “when I was 12 years old, I found out na hindi po pala best friend ng mom ko, she’s actually my mom’s partner.”

She continued, “My mom is now in same-sex relationship. Hanggang ngayon, they are still together. My stepmom is amazing, she’s great and I love her so much. We’re very, very much close.”

Recently, she contacted her Italian father via a friend request on Facebook. “Right away, he texted my mom. (He said) ‘Shanaia sent me a friend request. Should I text her? Is this her reaching out?’ Sabi ko, ‘Tell him he can text me.’”

Few weeks later, his father introduced her virtually to his family. “I have a half-sister, who is younger than me? (My father) is super accepting and super loving. Pero nasa Italy pa po sila. I have been texting, I haven’t video called. And I haven’t met them in person or anything yet.” Maybe some time soon, they will have a family reunion, for sure.

Becoming beauty queen

The rising singer-actress-model was the 2016 Miss Philippines Canada first-runner up. Although she did “enjoy” and “had fun” doing it, she finds joining beauty pageants “so stressful,” especially the question and answer portion.

However, given that she’s a beauty and brain package, will she participate in another beauty pageant here in the Philippines? “For now, I’m not so sure but maybe if they really give me the hard training, of like having to think quickly on your feet,” she answered. “You have to be a really well-rounded and smart woman (because) a lot of people are really going to look up to you. You have to really carry yourself very well.”

“I really don’t know? I’m really stressed sa question and answer po talaga. We never know, maybe in the far, far future,” she added.

Meanwhile, her fellow PBB housemate Albie Casiño previously admitted his attraction for Shanaia and the two went for a “sisig date” early last month.

“He is a great guy. He is very, very fun (to be with and get to know). He is very makulit,” she described Albie.

However, on starting a romantic relationship with anyone, Shanaia said, “I feel right now it’s really important to focus on my career. I’m young, I’m only 19. And this is just the beginning of my career. It’s starting here lang talaga. I’m not closing my heart, my mind. I’m focusing din po talaga on my future din.”