Shaina Magdayao recently opened up about her journey in show business, revealing how she has navigated the industry's pressures while staying true to her core values. In a candid interview on Empower Hour with Roni Hirshberg, Shaina shared her insights on career, style, and the importance of cultural representation.
One poignant recollection involved the industry's past expectations for transitioning child actors. Shaina recounted the pressure to pose for men's magazines as a rite of passage.
"It was a trend back home years ago, wherein they had to transition child actors to be like a woman in the industry, and we had to do that by posing on a men's magazine, like showing that you're a woman now and you're not a child actor [anymore]," she explained.
However, Shaina chose a different path.
"And I have so much respect for the women who chose that path, but I also said no to that, and I really pleaded with my management to not, I guess, pressure me to go towards that path."
Instead of conforming to the trend, she opted for more mature roles to demonstrate her transition. "I said [to my management] that in exchange, I would just like to portray more mature roles, being a young mom or a young wife, just to show that I am a woman myself," she revealed.
As her career progressed, Shaina’s perspective evolved. "The longer you stay in the industry, you try to find more meaning and purpose in what you're doing," she noted.
Decades of experience have instilled in her the values of humility and gratitude. "Life would definitely humble you," she reflected. "It will definitely make you realize that you do not know everything and that you are not in control of anything, which is why whenever good things happen in your life, you have to be grateful."
Now, in a different stage of her career, Shaina is dedicated to giving back to the industry and leveraging her platform for meaningful causes. "Now I'm at this point wherein I'm paying back and being able to contribute to the industry in my own little way," she stated.
Beyond her acting endeavors, Shaina is deeply involved in charity work and women’s empowerment, championing authenticity and self-acceptance. "[I lend] my voice to the charity events and the charitable operations that I do back home, making women feel good about themselves.
Of course, with this world right now, especially with the world of social media, they're comparing or they're wanting to be someone else, but I always say that they have to embrace their authenticity because their uniqueness is their greatest asset at the end of the day, and that you are here for a purpose that only you can fulfill," she emphasized.
Shaina also aspires to continue representing the Philippines on the international stage. Serving as a jury member for the UNCAGED section at the New York Asian Film Festival 2024, she underscored her commitment. "Since I started being invited to international festivals in 2017, I feel that I am just not here for myself as an actress but I'm here to represent the country and the Filipino women," she affirmed.
Shaina Magdayao's journey is a testament to the power of staying true to oneself, proving that success can be achieved without compromising one's values.