Heart’s advice to ‘StarStruck’ hopefuls

Heart Evangelista

For a time, I didn’t think I would be able to snap out of it,” Heart Evangelista said, recalling the depressive slump she went through after losing her unborn twins in two miscarriages earlier this year. “You can’t have it all. Back then, I felt like I was really a worthless person.”

Heart is the type of person who likes to set goals for herself—she even keeps a timetable of sorts. Then, she works “very hard” to achieve them.

But looking back on that painful experience, she realized that one could only plan his or her life so much.

“I know I’m a hard worker, and I’m used to getting what I aim for. But I really didn’t expect that,” the GMA 7 actress told reporters at a recent pocket interview. “So now, having a baby—that will happen when it happens. I don’t want to super plan my life anymore. At the end of the day, it’s all up to the Lord.”

And being in show biz only made her situation even more difficult. As it turned out, losing babies wasn’t enough reason for her bashers to stop hurling vile comments at her.

“Every single word that was said against me and my babies hit me—it really did,” she admitted. “My heart bled each time they said something bad.”

Despite everything that happened, the 33-year-old star didn’t dare “question” God. “The things we go through to build our character … made me stronger. Now, I feel like I can face everything else—and I take pride in that,” she said.

But Heart couldn’t have done it without the love and support of her family and her husband, Sen. Chiz Escudero.

“I saw him show sadness only two times. The first one was when the doctor told us that one of our babies lost its heartbeat. It made him drop his phone. I felt bad because it takes a lot for him to show his emotions,” Heart related. “The other time, I caught him drinking beer, his eyes were all red. He must have been crying.”

Other than that, Chiz has always been one of her “pillars of strength.” “He really kept me sane, in a way,” she said. “He encouraged me to get out of the house and get back to work.”

Heart recently signed a management contract with GMA Artist Center, after her deal with Viva Artist Agency ran its course. “Viva understood my decision. It made sense that I go all the way with GMA 7,” said Heart, who wore a white dress to the contract signing. “I’m actually getting married with them!”

“During the time of my life when I felt nothing else would be there for me, GMA 7 was there. They helped me get my dream roles,” she added.

Aside from doing television work, Heart is busy with her visual arts endeavors and charity work, and recently got into vlogging. While she wants to be involved in all her projects as much as possible, she admitted that she could use another pair of hands.

“I have been managing a lot of my stuff for the longest time, but it’s really tiring,” Heart said. “GMA and I have been collaborating on various projects; they have always been supportive of what I’m doing. I’m very excited about 2019 and what it has in store for me.”

Heart is set to be one of the judges in the upcoming season of the reality talent search, “StarStruck.” “I’m not used to being harsh, but we will see! I’m excited about that,” Heart said.

“More than the talent and looks, I will also be looking for that X factor or spark,” she added.

Asked what advice she could give to aspiring celebrities, Heart said: “Always stay grounded and kind, because these things will take you places. There are many talented people and pretty faces out there. But it’s what’s inside you that will make you shine your brightest.”