Kaila Estrada Speaks Up About Being A "Nepo Baby" And How She Made A Name On Her Own Terms

Growing up with a famous last name can open doors, but it also comes with its own set of extra eyes and expectations. For Kaila Estrada, being the daughter of acting veterans John Estrada and Janice de Belen meant growing up around fame, but still figuring out for herself if a career in the spotlight was really what she wanted.

In a Behind the Reel: FDCP Roundtable Discussions interview, Kaila sat down with fellow children of actors, or as the public would call them: "nepo babies": Ara Davao, Inah De Belen, and Diego Gutierrez. Alongside journalist MJ Felipe, they unpacked the realities of growing up adjacent to fame, cutting through the myths, pressure, and work of proving yourself.

Fact: Kaila didn't grow up dreaming of being an actress. Her interest only came years after college, long after the assumptions had already been made for her. "I was doing other things. I was modeling, I was doing content creation," she shared. The push to try acting came from a simple, low-pressure moment with her trusted Ate Mimi, her mom's assistant. Still, hesitation was v real. Kaila admitted, "I didn't feel like I was ready or had the skillset."

It was acting workshops that became the turning point, the space where she realized this wasn't just something she could do, but something she wanted to commit to long-term. While she acknowledges that growing up on sets gave her a subconscious familiarity with the industry, she's clear about one thing: no one pushed her into it.

"It was my decision to enter the business," she said, adding that her family was actually surprised when she chose this path as she's made previous comments about not wanting to act.

And when she finally decided to enter the entertainment industry, she made a deal with herself to go in without shortcuts. No leaning into the safety net, even when people already knew her name. She gave herself two years to book a project on her own. If it worked, she would stay. If not, she would walk away and go back to studying. It's definitely safe to say that all turned out exactly as she hoped—and we were honored enough to have her as Cosmopolitan Philippines' October 2024 cover star!

Of course, being a "nepo baby" comes with commentary—lots of it. Kaila spoke honestly about reading online feedback, saying, "You can't filter out the bad stuff from the constructive stuff," admitting how easily it can seep into your inner mind and spark self-doubt. These days, she's learning to let go. As long as she's doing her best and not hurting anyone, she's choosing to keep moving forward.

Yes, Kaila is a "nepo baby" and she doesn't deny it. "When anyone asks me, 'How do you feel about being a nepo baby?'—well, it's true," she said. "But it doesn't mean we didn't earn our spots. It doesn't mean na we don't work hard and that we're bad people."

Echoing Inah's point that nepotism doesn't cancel out talent or professionalism, Kaila reminds us that privilege and hard work can exist at the same time.

Looking ahead, Kaila has her sights set on challenging, even edgy roles (she's hoping to play a serial killer 👀), and a filmography that shows range. Five years from now, she hopes to be remembered as "a professional actress who never backed down from a challenge" and, just as importantly, as a good person.