Heart Evangelista admits to experiencing imposter syndrome

Heart Evangelista | Image: Instagram/@iamhearte

Despite her social status, fashion influencer Heart Evangelista admitted that she was once afflicted with imposter syndrome, a condition with which one feels like a “fraud” despite their achievements.

In the first episode of her new show “Heart World,” Evangelista gave a tour of her house in Paris and talked about her upbringing. 

“In fact, dumating ako sa point na mayroon na akong imposter syndrome, ‘yung feeling mo hindi ka deserving na makuha mo ‘to. But as time goes by, I give myself a tap at the back na sinasabi ko, you deserve it because hindi mo lang ito pinaghirapan, halos makipaglaban ka para dito,” she explained (In fact, I reached the point of having imposter syndrome, the feeling that you don’t deserve to get this. But as time goes by, I give myself a tap at the back while saying, ‘You deserve it because you did not just work hard for this, you also fought hard for it.’”)

In psychology, imposter syndrome is “the feeling of being a fraud among high achievers,” or having the tendency of feeling underserving of one’s achievements. It can also be closely related to perfectionism, in which people feel the pressure to perform at their best all the time.

Evangelista said that while she’s aware that she was born privileged, she affirmed that her parents taught her to work hard for the things she wants.

“Don’t get me wrong; ina-acknowledge ko talaga ‘yung idea na pinanganak akong privileged. Pero siyempre dinidisiplina din kami. Kailangan maging thankful ka kung anong mayroon ka. Kailangan hardworking ka,” she emphasized. (Don’t get me wrong; I acknowledge that I was born privileged. But of course, we were also disciplined. You should be thankful for the things you have. You need to be hardworking.)

“Iyon ang dala-dala ko, na kung may gusto ka, kailangang pagtrabahuan mo ‘yon. Kailangan ‘yung talagang alam mo na deserve mo bago mo siya makuha,” continued the actress. (That’s what I live for, that when you want something, you need to work for it. You really need to know that you deserve it before you get it.)