Being an Olympian is hard enough without having to deal with people doubting you because of your gender. Hidilyn Diaz has heard people doubt her abilities as an athlete because weightlifting is a sport of physical strength—a trait not commonly associated with women. She works hard not only to excel at the sport she loves but also to do so proudly as a woman and as a Filipino.
As the newest Belo ambassador, Hidilyn highlights the importance of representation. Her philosophy: she doesn’t need to choose to be either strong or beautiful, because she can certainly be both. “Para sa akin, as a strong woman, it means showing what you got. Kasi minsan, nali-limit tayo, na sinasabi na eto lang tayo. Dito lang tayo. Dapat ‘di tayo lumabas. E, babae kami. Tao din kami. So pinapakita lang natin na magaling din tayo, at malakas tayo.”
However, putting your best face forward isn’t always the easiest task, especially while training to be a top athlete. People who live an active lifestyle sweat a lot, making them prone to breakouts—something Hidilyn is familiar with. Leading to the Olympics, she found that her usual routine of washing her face and applying sunblock wasn’t cutting it. She started to have more acne problems during her training period in Malaysia. Hidilyn felt self-conscious because of her pimples. She knew that she would need professional help.
Hidilyn experienced Belo’s ADVALight laser treatment to help her combat acne. Belo is the first and only clinic in the country that uses this cutting-edge yellow laser. The laser targets hyperpigmentation, oiliness, acne, scars, and redness. . “Na-treat ‘yong acne ko, e. Makita niyo, medyo less na ‘yong acne ko. After ‘nong first session, nakita ko gumanda ‘yong skin ko. Mas naging smooth na siya, mas naging clear. Gusto ko magtuloy-tuloy ng sessions!”
She’s grateful for the care Belo has given her and her skin, and the renewed confidence it gave her. “Iba ang Belo. It’s a good brand na kilalang-kilala ng buong Pilipinas. And it’s good to be part of Belo. Gusto ko rin sabihin na, ‘Belo Beautiful.’ ‘Di ba? Every day, Belo Beautiful ako.”
The Philippines’ first gold medalist with the only golden laser treatment in the country? Now, that’s a winning combination of strength and beauty.
