Facing a day head-strong is often a goal for any woman in today’s age. Her mantra? To embody that well-resounding phrase of being a strong, independent woman. With self-belief plastered in her mind and confidence labeled head to toe, she can conquer anything. 

But let’s face it. Self-doubt brings us down and deep-seated insecurities make us question our worth. We find ourselves hiding in the dark, wary of failure. 

The same goes for celebrities, who just like any of us are human beings. Cue in Heart Evangelista, Kathryn Bernardo, Nadine Lustre, Gabbi Garcia, and Ylona Garcia. Anyone would think that life is flawless and uninterrupted for these top stars — but the truth is, hesitations and fears hound relentlessly. Their secret? Turning that hesitation into strength to #SeeWhatHappens once they move forward. 

Thanks to Pond’s Women Speak Forum last September 4, these women shared their personal experiences on how they triumphed over the challenges to reveal their most beautiful self.  

Work with what you’ve got and #SeeWhatHappens when you turn them into assets 

How often do you look at yourself and end up feeling disappointed? The truth is, no one really notices all those things you see. What you deem as unpleasant can be your unique asset that allows you to stand out from the crowd. 

Nadine can attest to that, with an image quite different from the usual character the audience has been used to. Behind the confidence and flair we see, she asked herself a lot of questions that hindered her to become her true self. She eventually embraced these differences, including the mistakes along the way. Ultimately, this allowed her to shine and be the star we see today. 

The same goes with Kathryn. With so much success, negativity still comes to her mind. It’s easy to give up and succumb to the inner turmoil in your head — especially if others’ expectations are lurking left and right. But facing these hesitations is exactly what made her power through and allowed a barricade to become a milestone. 

Start speaking up in groups and #SeeWhatHappens when you slowly scale it up

Picture an office meeting: present is your manager and other pertinent stakeholders. You know you have valuable insights yet fear creeps in accompanied with self-judgement. 

The answer? Just speak up. According to Heart, overthinking allows us to hesitate and hide. Perfection doesn’t exist in this world and you have to learn how to set aside that judgement. Slowly, everything changes for you once you work on that perspective. Right or wrong, you’ll be amazed with that jump in confidence and find yourself being more and more inclusive.  

Do things based on your own timeline and #SeeWhatHappens when you stop comparing yourself to others

Peer pressure often seeps in the most when we become cautious of our age and compare ourselves to the achievements of others. The pressure in getting that promotion, doing further studies, or even starting a business all seem too overwhelming. 

Gabbi and Ylona, both bright, young stars encountered these hurdles in their journey. Gabbi received a lot rejection as she was trying to jump start her career. Things changed when she embraced her true passion — singing. This served as a stepping stone for her to stand out and be the singer-actress she is known for today. 

Ylona, on the other hand, felt a ton of self-doubt as she entered an industry that was heavily saturated. But it was through self-belief in her aspirations that pushed her towards a path of happiness. Looking at the bigger picture made her realize how the world truly is round. 

We’ve known Pond’s for its beauty products throughout the years but with the #SeeWhatHappens movement, it aims to transform into  a purpose-driven platform to unite all women. It caters to each unique individual’s struggles and give that affirmation that it’s okay to embrace your true, authentic self. After all, it’s in facing the negativity, fears, and self-made judgement that paves the way for that difference. 

For more information about this Pond’s campaign, check out the hashtag #SeeWhatHappens or visit www.ponds.com.

INQUIRER.net BrandRoom/KC