Growing up in the world of showbiz, Ciara Sotto concedes that she, too, experienced the weight of conforming to prevailing beauty standards that exclusively favored the mestizas.
The pressure was even more pronounced, given that within her own family, Ciara was the only morena.
Both her sisters, Lala and Apples Sotto, and even her mom Helen Gamboa, had fair skin.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on October 25, 2023, the celebrity mom discussed her experience as a morena in an industry dominated by celebrities with lighter skin.
Ciara remembered that in her younger years, she would be teased about being her family's adopted daughter because of her skin color.
"My two sisters are so fair so I grew up kind of, like, insecure," she told PEP.ph.
The interview was held during the launch of Elizabeth Arden's White Tea Skin Solutions at Crimson Hotel in Muntinlupa City.
Ciara continued, "Kasi nga parang feeling ko hindi ako maganda.
"Kasi parang nasa culture natin in the Philippines na pag maitim ka, hindi ka maganda. Mas maganda kapag maputi, di ba?"
However, Ciara didn't allow these unwelcome comments about her skin color to affect her. Instead, she embraced her skin color even more.
She said, "I realized when I was growing up na parang, 'No, God made me unique,' di ba?"
And despite societal pressures, Ciara expressed her firm stance on not considering skin whitening and even surgically enhancing her beauty.
"I like my natural color, and I have no intention of changing it.
"I don't like altering anything in my face or in my body."
She added, "Mas gusto ko yung natural skin color ko, yung natural ko na itsura, di ba?
"Kasi nga parang feeling ko, it's more Filipino when I love my country. It's more Filipino if you're kayumanggi.
"So I'm really proud of my color and I'm really proud that I'm morena."
Ciara promptly acknowledged that she doesn't view cosmetic surgery as a negative way to enhance one's beauty.
But she emphasized that it's simply not something she's interested in.
"Of course, if you want to change something, you wish you could. You would, di ba?
"And I have nothing against everyone who goes and get... I have nothing against people who get their bodies or their faces enhanced.
"I have nothing against that. That's just not me."
Towards the end of the interview, Ciara imparted an inspiring message to fellow morenas who have encountered similar experiences.
"Love your color, love your skin, love your body.
"So that's my advocacy na parang you have to be confident and you have to love your body because that's what God gave you."
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