Francine Diaz
I will not let what people tell me about my body affect me emotionally,” declared TV star Francine Diaz, who even as a teenager appears to already have a clear grasp of what self-love is all about.
During a recent virtual media gathering, Francine was asked whether there are things about her that she still feels insecure about and how she deals with them.
“Yes, of course. As much as I can, I try not to let them get to my head. I know I have a thin physique. People around me make sure to remind me that, as well as tell me I should work on gaining weight. When I eventually gained some pounds, they then noticed that I have siopao (rounded) face and said, ‘magpapayat ka nga!’” Francine told reporters during her formal launch as the ambassador of the skincare brand Dr. Alvin Rejuvinating Set.
Low self-confidence
“The situation kind of gets confusing sometimes. So I’ve decided to focus on my form. I don’t mind that I’m thin. What’s important is that I’m healthy. I will continue to do whatever makes me happy,” she said. “I still have insecurities—that’s normal for a teenager. But I will now stop listening to what other people say about my body.
“It’s also normal to have low self-confidence, sometimes,” Francine said in response to a request for her to give a few inspirational words to individuals her age who might be going through the same thing. “For example, if having pimples makes you feel insecure, understand that it’s also part of your experience as a teenager. This doesn’t mean, though, that you will not do anything to address the problem. What it does mean is that you lack proper skincare. If having a healthy body is important to you, you should also prioritize healthy skin.”
The star of the top-rating drama series “Huwag Kang Mangamba” on ABS-CBN was also asked for her reaction to the fact that a lot of her supporters are encouraging her to eventually join beauty pageants.
“Yes, they keep saying that they see the potential in me,” said the 17-year-old. “Although I feel flattered to hear and read their comments, I really don’t think it’s for me. I’m aware that if I join pageants, I won’t only be presenting myself to people. I will also be representing the country and all the Filipinos to the world. That puts an incredible amount of pressure on my shoulders.”
‘No exact formula’
Francine is undoubtedly one of the busiest local teen celebrities today. Aside from being a cast member of “Huwag Kang Mangamba,” which is currently airing its last few episodes, Francine is also busy with being a product endorser and a student.
“I try to join our online class even when I’m in lock-in taping and the signal is not so good. I really try to catch up with the schoolwork that I’ve missed. Like this weekend, I need to really sit down and write an essay,” Francine shared with reporters. “I also have photo shoots that are scheduled soon. This is aside from the shoots I do via Zoom. I also try to come up with content for my YouTube channel.”
This was why when Francine was asked, in reference to her TV show’s title, what makes her feel anxious and apprehensive the most, the young star replied: “It has got to be the exam week!”
On her formula for success, Francine shared: “I really don’t consider myself as super successful. As far as I’m concerned, I’m on my way to achieving that but I still have a long way to go. I also think that there’s no exact formula for success. As long as you don’t give up, you will eventually fulfill your goals.”