PBB Winner Lella Ford Gets Real About Being Called A "Nepo Baby" And Putting In The Work

Lella Ford is out of the Pinoy Big Brother house and stepping straight into the spotlight, taking on the conversations that come with her last name with refreshing honesty.

ICYDK, Lella is the daughter of actress and TV personality Karla Estrada and the younger sister of actor Daniel Padilla. In Philippine showbiz—or just showbiz in general, actually—it's a known fact that a famous last name automatically comes with plenty of public commentary, something she has already learned to navigate while growing up.

The 20-year-old rising personality recently appeared on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, where the topic of "nepo baby" comments inevitably came up. When asked about her reaction to being labeled as such, Lella acknowledged the reality behind it. "Totoo naman po. I mean, where's the lie? It's true and wala naman pong masama doon," she said candidly.

For Lella, family connections are real, but they should not replace effort. She makes it clear that the term only becomes negative once someone leans on privilege without putting in the work. "I'm here because I'm making a name for myself. Pinaghihirapan ko lahat ng meron ako now," she added.

Criticism hits differently when it concerns family. "Mas mabigat kapag tungkol sa pamilya po. Tungkol sa akin lang, mas kaya ko pong harapin," Lella shared, revealing how early exposure to public commentary shaped her resilience. Growing up with constant attention made her learn where to draw the line between feedback that matters and comments that are just noise.

Filtering out negativity is now part of her strategy. "Mas gusto ko pong bigyan pansin yung mga kailangan bigyan pansin," she said. "Kapag alam ko na gusto lang [nila] manira or walang meaning yung sinasabi nila, dedma lang [ako]."

Behind the scenes, family remains her ultimate support system, especially her Kuya Daniel. During the interview, she described him as both generous and protective, adding that he's also naturally stricter when it comes to potential suitors.

"Super [spoiled] po ako kay Kuya. Bunso po ako eh," she laughed, adding that he still surprises her with little things she likes without making a big deal about it.

While she's currently focused on opportunities in the entertainment industry, Lella revealed that continuing her education abroad remains one of her long-term goals. "Education is very important to me, so that's still my dream," she said.

The PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0 finale crowned Lella as one of its big winners, sharing the spotlight with Kapuso Sparkle artist Caprice Cayetano.