The #EXpeciallyforYou segment of the noontime show It's Showtime has become a launch pad for its participants.
Alongside hunky Atty. Oliver Moeller and Bae Suzy look-alike Jannah Chua, content creator Ace Carrera has also found himself in the spotlight after winning the segment in February 2024.
Like Jannah and Oliver, Ace has received numerous compliments for his looks. However, Ace openly admitted that he hasn’t always been this attractive.
He confessed that he struggled with his appearance during his younger years and went through an awkward phase growing up.
Ace told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press in an interview, "Laki po ako sa Tondo, Binondo... dun po ako lumaki sa squatters' area so laging babad sa initan, tapos lagi ako nagba-basketball sa kalye sa labas ng bahay namin.
"And mababa yung self-esteem ko bata pa lang ako dahil sa itsura ko — maitim madaming pimples, patpatin tapos mahinhin po.
"So ganoon akong klasing bata noon."
The interview took place during his press launch as the "Gen Z face" of Frontrow's Luxxe White Glow Up held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
ACE CARRERA ON STRUGGLE WITH SELF-CONFIDENCE
Ace admits that he wasn't good-looking during his teenage years, which took a toll on his self-esteem.
What really impacted his confidence, however, were the negative comments he received from family members during reunions.
Recalling the experience, he said, "Nagkakaroon kami ng family reunion tapos mismong family members ko pa ang nang-asar sakin na every time naikita nila ako, dumadalo ako sa mga events namin or gathering namin laging sinasabi sakin at paulit-ulit kong narinig yun na, 'Ba't ganyan ang itim mo...'
"'Parang kang kutis kahoy tapos ang dami mong pimples saan ka ba nagpupunta, saan ka ba nagsususuot?'
"'Yung mga ate mo, yung mga kapatid mo okay naman, ang lahi natin magaganda't gwapo, parang ikaw lang na iba.'"
Ace added, "In a way, sa kanila, parang biro lang yun pero ako, dinamdam ko siya. So every time na lang nagkakaroon kami ng mga family reunion that time ano, parang nada-down ako.
"Instead na minsan parang i-enjoy ko na lang yung moment pero every time kasi nakakarinig ako sa mismong family members ko parang mas masakit, parang ang sakit nakaka-down talaga."
Apart from his family members' unsolicited comments about his looks, Ace also recalled a time when a talent coordinator called him "maitim" and "mahinhin," which further diminished his self-confidence.
Apart from his family members' unsolicited comments about his looks, Ace also recalled a time when a talent coordinator called him "maitim" and "mahinhin," which further diminished his self-confidence.
Ace mentioned that he participated in an artista workshop back in 2012 when the talent coordinator made that comment.
"Parang almost 3 months na ako nag-workshop noon and then tinanong ng mama ko yung isa sa mga talent coordinator or parang handler doon na, 'Madam ba't parang hindi pa nakasalang yung bulingit ko...'
"'Si Joker baka pwede pong makasalang para may experience niya, almost 3 months na po kasi... Mga ate niya po, kahit papaano po nabibigyan naman po sila ng taping.'"
Joker was Ace's nickname growing up.
He continued, "Alam mo, sabi ng isang handler or talent coordinator na yun, hindi ko makalimutan e, 'Kasi Madam yung anak mo, maitim yung anak mo, ang hinhinin di masyado nagkasalita.'
"Pero active ako pag nag-workshop na kami, pero nagkataon talaga, natahimik lang ako minsan nasa isang sulok lang ako pag wala nang gagawin.
"Wala nang activity noong narinig ko yun.
"Puwedeng sabihin natin biro lang ng tao yung sinabi niya sa mama ko, pero noong narinig ko kasi yun parang isa yun sa mga nagpababa lalo ng kumpiyansa ko sa sarili ko."
ACE CARRERA: BREAKING THE STEREOTYPE
Ace began his glow-up journey in 2020, during the pandemic, without initially having a glow-up as his goal.
He started by taking glutathione and vitamin capsules to boost his health during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eventually, after two months of taking the beauty capsules, Ace noticed changes that were further amplified by using beauty soaps.
With his journey, Ace aims to break the stereotype surrounding men practicing self-care and skincare.
He said, "We have to accept the fact na hindi lang babae ang conscious sa kanilang sarili nila.
"And kailangan natin i-normalize na kahit lalaki, conscious na din sa panahon natin ngayon para ma-boost yung confidence nila.
"Para maging better version of themselves sila.
"And at the same time, para mas confident sila na humarap pa sa maraming tao, gawin yung mga bagay na gusto nila, and gawin yung pangarap nila, i-pursue yung pangarap nila."
Ace added, "So we have to normalize na yung mga beauty skincare is puwede talaga panlalaki yan.
"Kasi ang babae't ang lalaki, parehas lang naman yung tao. Gender lang naman yung pinagkaiba.
"So technically, may mga pwedeng gamitin ang lalaki na ginagamit din ng babae. So nothing wrong with that. Yung gumamit ng skincare.
"In fact, kung yan yung makakapag-boost talaga ng confidence mo para, di ba, maabot mo yung desire mo na, kung halimbawa nalang meron kang girl na tawag dito pinapangarap, go for it.
"Kasi ako, yun yung naging motivation ko din.
"Sabi ko, kung kinakilangan ko gumamit ng skincare para pumogi ako, why not?
"Kasi nag-suffer talaga ako sa pang-aasar dahil nga sa itsura ko dati.
"So ayokong ibig deal yun mga sinasabi ng tao na, 'Ay, gumagamit ka ng skincare.
Di ba, pang babae lang yan, bakla ka ba?'
"So ayokong i-big deal yun. Kasi yun talaga yung nakasanayan ng iba yun, ng mga lumang tao. Iba na kasi ang generation ngayon."
ACE CARRERA'S ADVICE
Recalling his own transformative glow-up journey, Ace imparts valuable lessons that he wishes to share with others who are undergoing their own process of self-improvement and growth.
One crucial piece of advice he shared is to maintain consistency in pursuing your goals.
He said, "Siguro po, huwag talagang huwag talagang huminto na mangarap.
"Kung pangarap mo na mag-glow up, maging better version of yourself, ipagpatuloy mo lang, ituloy mo lang.
"Kasi wala namang imposible as long as nasa desire mo siya.
"And si God kasi ibibigay niya yung mga bagay na gusto natin kapag, diba, hindi ka naman talaga huminto at hindi mo sinukuwan. Yun yung para sa akin."
Ace also advised always embracing authenticity and reminded others to let go of the need for external validation, enabling them to stay focused on their own goals.
"Huwag mahiya na... tawag dito ...maging totoo sa tao kasi yun naman yung pinaka-importante maging genuine ka lang.
"Hindi mo kailangan na di ba, i-sugarcoat lahat ng mga sinasabi mo or ikaw mismo as a tao, hindi mo kailangan na patunayan yung sarili mo sa ibang tao na hindi naniniwala sa'yo.
"Kailangan lang, deadma lang, continue lang, tuloy lang, until darating yung time, may bibigyan ka rin talaga ng pagkakataon na yung mga pangarap mo may sasakatuparan talaga."
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