“Badjao Girl” Rita Gaviola and her non-showbiz boyfriend. Image: Instagram/@itsritagaviola
Rita Gaviola, popularly known as “Badjao Girl,” announced that she is set to tie the knot with her non-showbiz boyfriend with whom she shares her one-year-old daughter Kianna Mae.
Gaviola was emotional when her partner got down on one knee, as seen on her Instagram page on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
“This is it,” the “Pinoy Big Brother” alum said, adding a ring and a bride emoji.
Gaviola then seemed to have hinted via a separate Facebook post that their nuptials will be held in June 2025.
Image: Facebook/Rita Gaviola aka Badjao Girl
Meanwhile, Gaviola, who has an online-selling business, addressed the “below-the-belt” remarks from netizens during her recent live-selling video on TikTok.
In a clip shared by TikTok user @Harttty, Gaviola was in tears during the livestream video after she apparently read comments saying she should just return to begging for alms on the street.
@harrttty21 #badjaogirl #badjao #fypviral #bash ♬ original sound – Harttty
“I appreciate lahat ng concern about my live-selling. Ayoko na sana magsalita kaso below the belt and I’m proud to say na yes, I’m a ‘Badjao native.’ So what’s wrong? Dahil Tagalog kayo?” Gaviola said through her Facebook page, lamenting the “crab mentality” among Filipinos.
“So what if bumalik ako sa part na ‘yon? Ang mahirap is kayo ang makaranas ng hindi niyo naranasan. Baka hindi niyo kayanin,” she concluded.
Gaviola first gained popularity in 2016 after being photographed at the Pahiyas Festival in Quezon. She then joined the reality TV show “PBB” alongside Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber and Kisses Delavin, among others.
Gaviola revealed in August last year that she is already a mom to her daughter Kianna. At the time, Gaviola appealed to the public to address their criticisms toward her instead of her child. Kianna celebrated her first birthday last July.