IVANA Alawi doesn’t understand why she has been tagged as every man’s fantasy woman.
Speaking during the second episode of “Ask Angelica,” Alawi insists she is not trying to be anything but her usual self.
“Honestly hindi ko siya maintindihan kung bakit kasi hindi naman kami masyado natutuwa sa sarili ko. I am being myself tapos biglang ang dami. Nagsu-swimsuit lang naman ako, normal naman kasi para sa akin mag-swimsuit or mag-swimming and mag-picture in bikini,” she said.
“Nagugulat ako na parang may mga magjowa na nagbe-break dahil sa akin. May mga babae na nagme-message na parang na-appreciate nila ‘yung women empowerment. Nakakatuwa lang na I am just being myself and nagugustuhan ng tao which makes me very happy. But I don’t see myself as ‘Uy gayahin niyo ako guys.’ Hindi ako ganun eh,” she added.
According to Alawi, she hasn’t always been confident about herself contrary to what some people think.
“Dati hindi ako proud sa sarili ko. Hindi ako makapag-sexy outfits. Hindi ako confident sa sarili ko until I learned… kunyari ‘yung mga ex ko kasi iniiwan ako dati. So hindi yata ako maganda, hindi yata ako sexy. Ang dami kong self-doubts kung bakit nangyayari ‘yun sa akin, bakit niloloko ako,” she said.
The actress said it was actually her mom who changed her perspective about how she should value herself.
“After no’n, sabi ng nanay ko, ‘It’s time to focus on yourself. Kailangan trabahuhin mo ang sarili mo, mahalin mo ang sarili mo. Everything will come after that,’” she said.
Alawi said it also helped that her mom asked her not to have a boyfriend at a young age.
“I think sobrang natuwa ako kasi siguro kung nag-boyfriend ako, hindi ako makaka-focus sa sarili ko. Hindi ako makaka-focus sa vlog. Ako kasi kapag nag-jowa, nandoon ang utak ko. I think the best talaga is to focus on yourself, focus on your family, focus on your education. Darating na lang iyon,” she said.(ABS-CBN)
