A year ago, LJ Reyes left acting and went to the U.S. to give birth to her son, Ethan Akio.

Ethan is her son with boyfriend Paulo Avelino, a former StarStruck 4 Avenger, now with the Kapamilya network.

Now the  GMA-7 talent and StarStruck 2 alumna is back in town and back in shape.

She recently portrayed a kontrabida in the defunct drama series, Time Of My Life. Viewers were amazed to see she's got her slim figure back.

The 23-year-old actress revealed she didn't gain weight during her pregnancy.

She said breastfeeding helped shed the extra pounds.

At the Primadonna launch party held on November 24 at the Shangri-La Hotel Makati, LJ told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) how motherhood has changed her.

"Alam mo, kapag naging isang ina ka na, ang priority mo parati...ang anak mo.

"Pangalawa na lang yung iba pang bagay. Minsan nga nahuhuli na yung sarili mo."

Asked to describe herself now, she said:

"Si LJ ngayon, isa siyang matibay na babae, malakas.

"Feeling ko nag-mature ako.

"Yung sense ng isang mother kasi sobrang tibay, e.

"Feeling ko kahit papaano natututunan ko na siya," she said.

She said she plans to be a hands-on mom.