Many moms feel self-conscious about their bodies during and after pregnancy.
Content creator Zeinab Harake admits she went through this, too, back when she was pregnant with Bianca in 2021.
"Mukha akong walang ka-insecurity sa sarili ko, pero sobrang dami, like iniiyak ko," she admitted in an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press on August 8, 2023.
The interview took place following her contract signing as the first ambassador of Hey Pretty Skin Clinic.
She continued, "Hindi lang talaga siya... Ayoko na yung kagaya ng ginagawa ko dati na parang lahat bino-broadcast ko.
"Parang lately, natutunan ko na hindi lahat na iniinda mo o napupuna mo sa sarili mo, dapat mong i-rant.
"Dapat mong hanapan ng paraan para maging maayos, para hindi kung saan-saan ka napapadpad, girl."
Zeinab also had to deal with hyperpigmentation in some areas of her body as well as pregnancy weight gain after giving birth to Bianca.
But stretch marks had made Zeinab feel particularly insecure.
The 24-year-old vlogger recalled, "Dati dumadating talaga yung time na iniiyakan ko yung kamot ko. Siyempre parang nakaka-praning siya."
Read: Zeinab Harake is "proud" of her stretch marks
Over time, she has come to terms with the fact that her "tiger stripes" can be challenging to address, and has learned to embrace and be proud of them instead.
"...dadating yung time na mamahalin mo, tapos ikaw na mismo yung gagawa ng way paano mong aayusin yung sarili mo.
"Ikaw ang mag-aalaga niyan. Hindi mo puwedeng ipaasa sa ibang tao iyan. So do it on your own."
ZEINAB HARAKE: JOURNEY TO FLAWLESS SKIN
When asked about the other treatments she'd like to try, Zeinab already has a list in mind: something for slimming and underarm whitening.
"Kailangan ko talaga ng RF.
"Tingin niyo sobrang payat ko na, pero ano ako, parang konting kain ko lang... feeling ko kapagka bloated yung tummy ko, nagpapa-RF talaga ako. So importante sa akin yung RF.
"And yung kili-kili ko, sobrang diyamante ito sa akin. After ko magka-baby kasi, naging-OC ako sa underarm.
"May mga insecurities ang mommies, so ita-try ko rin yung underarm set dito sa clinic."
And now that she has started her journey as an actress, Zeinab mentioned that she's open to exploring singit-whitening treatments as well.
Read: Zeinab Harake fulfills dream of meeting her "lodi" Marian Rivera
Zeinab revealed one thing observed among A-list celebrities: "Dapat perfect yung singit!"
She continued, "Kasi sa showbiz, yun ang napansin ko, lahat talaga makikinis.
"Hindi naman ako anak mayaman na lumaking maganda, ang puti. So medyo insecure ako diyan.
"But sa color ko, love ko ito. Wala naman na po akong dapat i-paano.
"Yung mga breakouts, normal naman yan sa hormones nating mga babae.
"Isa yun sa mga kinaka-stress ko monthly, but ngayon may tutulong na sa atin magpagaling ng mga ganong patubo."
READ:
- Zeinab Harake fulfills dream of meeting her "lodi" Marian Rivera
- Zeinab Harake fangirls over Marian Rivera: "Kung may tagapunas ni Ate Yan, okay lang po ako dun."
- Effective ba ang social-media influencer na gaya ni Zeinab Harake as endorser?
- Zeinab Harake when asked, “yumabang ka?”: "Opo. Hindi tayo magpapaka-plastic.”