Ivana Alawi on boundaries, independence, and saying no

Before the conversation turned to love, motherhood, and healing, Ivana Alawi spoke first about boundaries.

In a candid sit-down with veteran journalist Karen Davila, the actress and top content creator addressed a reality many women in show business quietly face—indecent proposals. Asked where she draws the strength to refuse, Alawi responded with calm clarity.

“Okay naman ako sa buhay ko,” she said. Then she delivered the line that defined the moment: “I have my own money, so no.”

For Alawi, financial independence is not merely a milestone—it is protection. It allows her to walk away without fear, apology, or compromise. In an industry where power dynamics often blur moral lines, she made it clear that no offer is worth crossing her own boundaries.

That same sense of self-worth now shapes how she views love and the future.

As she marked her 29th birthday, Alawi shared that beyond fame, views, and success, her deepest wish remains simple and deeply personal. “Siguro I want my own family soon,” she said. “A loving husband, a faithful husband, and a big family. Gusto ko maraming anak.”

When asked what truly matters to her in a partner, her answer was firm and shaped by experience. “Importante po sa akin yung loyal and humble,” she said. “Turn off kasi kapag mayabang ang lalaki. And dapat mapagmahal sa pamilya—lalo’t ilang beses na akong naloko.”

The honesty was striking. For someone so visible online, Alawi did not soften her words or romanticize her past. Trust, she admitted, has not always come easily.

The conversation also touched on her childhood, including one of the most painful chapters of her life—the separation of her parents while they were living in Bahrain. She described it as her lowest point, a period that forced her to grow up early and confront loss head-on.

Amid the hardship, Alawi shared an unexpected childhood dream: becoming a housemaid.

“I wanted to be a housemaid,” she recalled, laughing gently as Davila clarified if she meant “housemate.” Alawi explained that the helper who helped raise her became a second mother figure. “Mahal na mahal ko po kasi siya,” she said. “That’s why ganon ako sa mga helper. I treat them as my family, kasi ganu’n po ako pinalaki.”

That early exposure to kindness and humility, she said, continues to shape how she treats people—especially those often overlooked.

The interview also traced her shift from traditional show business to becoming one of the country’s most influential vloggers, a move that gave her creative freedom and control over her narrative. That control has carried into her acting choices, including her first horror film, Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins, an official entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Behind the jump scares and box-office buzz is a woman quietly redefining success on her own terms.