Image: Instagram/@mariaangelicadl
Staying true to her beliefs and opinions, Binibining Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel de Leon said that she does not care about the negativity some people have for her. At the same time, she wants to focus on herself and the things she plans to do.
In an interview on “The Tonight Show with Boy Abunda”, Monday night, the beauty queen dismissed her bashers and said their words do not affect her anymore. Instead, she turns to accepting support and love.
“I don’t mind it anymore. I’ve read a lot of nasty things. I’ve heard a lot of nasty things. If you’ve seen everything, you’ve heard everything, if you’ve read anything, nothing can affect you anymore,” de Leon said. “And as they say, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ and I definitely am stronger.”
One example of some issues where she was vocal about was on the appointment of former sexy star and staunch President Duterte supporter Mocha Uson as an assistant secretary in the Presidential Communications Operations Office. De Leon noted then that Uson may not be qualified for the communications post due to Uson’s “biased and disrespectful” ways.
De Leon admitted that she initially did not realize the impact that her thoughts on the subject could make. Nevertheless, she has no regrets in voicing her opinion, which she asserts is her right. “If I didn’t post that, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I wouldn’t be where I am today with all the things happening right now,” de Leon said.
The beauty queen has also spoken up against the government’s drug war. She stands up against the violence and innocent lives lost in what she has described as a “bloody Philippines.”
While her opinion on certain issues drew the ire of President Duterte’s supporters, de Leon also advocates many other causes such as anti-discrimination and female reproductive health. She has denounced the hate protests in Charlottesville, North Carolina, United States, and have been one among those who have challenged the Philippine Supreme Court last May on its restrictions on female contraception. Katrina Hallare/JB
RELATED STORIES:
Beauty queen Mariel de Leon speaks up against violence in ‘bloody Philippines’
Bb. Pilipinas Int’l Mariel de Leon chooses to be politically outspoken, hits Mocha