Bianca Umali on self-love and appreciating Filipina beauty
Actress Bianca Umali started working out at 16. She said being orphaned at an early age made her realize the importance of taking extra care of her body.
Umali’s mom died of cancer when she had just turned 5. Two years later, her dad succumbed to a heart attack.
When she was younger, the morena beauty said she would also often get comments from netizens for being too thin. These two factors motivated her to begin her fitness journey quite early. “Eventually, this led me to the current state of my body, mind, and spirit. I think I’ve now reached the best level of contentment I’ve had in years,” she told Lifestyle.
Umali is actively promoting healthy living because she wants people from her generation and those who are younger to feel motivated, too.
“It may be hard in the beginning, but when you reach a point when you’re finally seeing and feeling the change, when you’re finally understanding the benefits of prioritizing self-care, then all will be worth it. You will be happier and live your best life,” said Umali, during an event that introduced her as an endorser of the Filipino beauty and skin care brand Pina, for the Pina Glow lotion.
She has this advice for those who want to look and feel healthy: “There will be days when you feel like you hate yourself—this is normal. I actually experienced this for a very long time. It’s okay to not feel okay, sometimes. Just think of all the family and friends who are making the extra effort to ensure that you feel loved. They should be your main reason to try loving yourself as well.”
Not a requirement
For her, falling in love and having a romantic partner can motivate you to look beautiful, but this isn’t necessary. “I don’t want to say, especially to the younger generation, that they need a boyfriend or a girlfriend to achieve that beauty. Having a partner is not a requirement. Motivation can also come from your family, workmates and friends,” said Umali, who has been dating fellow actor Ruru Madrid for seven years now.
As an actor, she is aware that people tend to have high standards when it comes to how celebrities should look. “This is especially prevalent in my generation. People try to put you into a mold. I stand proud of the qualities that God has given me. I’m glad people appreciate me and help me advocate love and appreciation of what a Filipino woman looks like.”
The actress said a lot has changed for the skinny teenager that people used to bully online. “The most noticeable difference is that the Bianca of today has confidence and a more positive state of mind,” she declared.
“When we are young, we tend to be more sensitive, we tend to question things so much and then get very emotional easily. In fairness to the younger Bianca, she never reacted to her bashers. She understood early on that she can’t please everyone no matter how hard she tries.”
Now 24, the actress claimed she understands this on a deeper level. “Today, regardless of whether I get positive or negative comments, I try to show that I respect the different opinions of people. I just hope they will respect mine as well,” she stressed.
