Ivana Alawi to timid admirers: Don’t be scared of successful women

Ivana Alawi just wants to go out on normal dates.

The actress-influencer is open to entertaining suitors. The thing is, some of them don’t really follow through—or even bother making a first move—because they find her intimidating.

“One time, I asked a guy, ‘Why didn’t you message me?’ He said, ‘Because I got shy. You look intimidating and you might judge me,’” Ivana told reporters at a recent media gathering for her new campaign with the Filipino-owned fine jewelry brand LVNA by Drake Dustin.

She also noticed that some guys already have preconceived notions of her, and assume she prefers to go only to fancy places.

“You know what, I don’t get it. Kahit saan nga nila ako dalhin. Actually, I don’t really get impressed by something that’s too grand,” she said. “I just want them to treat me normally and not assume that, ‘Gusto n’ya sosyal.’ I just want a normal date.”

Needless to say, confidence is something Ivana finds attractive in a man.

Confident and humble

“It’s difficult with guys who are timid. Sometimes, during dates, they would tell me, ‘You know what, I got scared of you because I feel like you’re already rich and doing well in life. What can I offer you?’ I’m like, ‘Hmm, what can you offer me? I think relationships shouldn’t be like that,’” she said.

To prospective suitors, she had this to say. “Don’t be scared to make the first move. Don’t be intimidated by successful women. You’re enough … Mag message ka, ganun!”

Confidence, however, isn’t to be confused with conceit. “I also want someone humble,” she said.

The 27-year-old celebrity has yet to find a man she’s interested in, so it’s perfectly fine, she pointed out, to go out and meet new people. “If you’re not sure with someone, if you’re not yet committed or you’re not in a relationship, there’s nothing wrong with going out on dinners and having nice conversations with other people,” she said.

Symbol of self-love

She admitted, however, that because of a previous heartbreak, she has grown quite wary of giving her all in a relationship, especially from the get-go. “Hindi na ’ko nagmamahal nang todo-todo; 50 percent na lang,” she joked, drawing laughter. “You don’t have to give it your all and all at once,” she said.

“That was my mistake in the past … For one month, I was just crying and crying. But after a few years, I decided to work on myself, [learn to] love myself,” she said.

Ivana has always been fascinated by jewelry. When she was a young girl, she envisioned herself getting married at 18 with a beautiful ring on her finger. But fast forward to 2020, she was still single and no ring in sight. She then decided to buy herself one “as a symbol for her love for herself” and “what she had become as a woman.”

During an endorsement shoot for LVNA, Ivana wore an 8-carat diamond ring reportedly worth P12 million. She fell in love with the piece, so much so that she pulled the trigger and bought it—much to the surprise of the brand owner, Drake Dustin Ibay.

The ring was eventually named after her, the “Ivana Moon.”

Barbie-themed

“I have always wanted a big ring. That was my dream. I collected smaller rings when I was younger. When I put it on for the shoot I said, ‘This is so beautiful … kahit wala na akong talent fee!” she said. “I texted Drake and said I wanted to buy it. He was like, ‘Are you sure?’ But really, when I fall in love with a piece of jewelry, it keeps me up at night.”

Ivana’s partnership with LVNA has only grown since. She now owns a franchise in Cebu. She’s also the face of the brand’s new, officially licensed Barbie-themed collection, which features jewelry and accompanying accessories with touches of pink.

“I loved and played with Barbie dolls when I was young. That’s when I realized I liked jewelry because I enjoyed accessorizing my dolls,” she said. “I will be hands-on with upcoming designs, because I’m very particular with that.”

Should the right man finally come her way and ask for her hand, Ivana won’t make a big deal of the engagement ring and its value. It’s the love and effort that come with it that truly matter. “It’s about what comes from his heart,” she stressed.

Besides, Ivana can buy herself diamonds if she so wishes. “That’s why I work hard, why I’m inspired to keep on working,” she said. “If you want a bigger ring, then work for it yourself.”