Trigger warning: This article mentions eating disorders.
Having been in the spotlight for over a decade now, Belle Mariano has gained a loyal legion of fans ready to fight tooth and nail to protect her from bashers. Despite this, the 20-year-old actress admits that she still struggles with her self-confidence from time to time, particularly because of her body insecurities.
"I think I mentioned this in one of my interviews, that growing up, I had problems with eating," Belle revealed in ABS-CBN Star Cinema's Donny and Belle: Their Moment YouTube documentary. Apparently, Belle was extra cautious of her diet because she has never felt proud of her physical appearance.
"It was so hard for me because I never saw myself confident with my body, with the way I look," she added. "I would always count my calories every day. It came to a point na I wanted to vomit."
Even Donny Pangilinan, Belle's love team partner, confirmed that it's common for Belle to skip meals during work. "Ang pinakaayaw ko na ginagawa ni Belle 'yung nagpapalipas siya ng gutom. Minsan kasi sa trabaho, diba dire-diretso? Nakakalimutan niya kumain kaya sinasabihan ko siya, 'Ba't hindi ka pa kumakain?' Minsan nakakalimutan talaga niya," he divulged.
While Belle still has her bad days, she's now learning to accept her flaws and love herself unconditionally. "By the end of the day, I think your flaws and what you think your insecurities are, that's what makes you beautiful. Those voices don't matter," she said.
"I think what really matters is how you see yourself and how God sees you because that's where I find my identity," Belle concluded. We couldn't have said it better, Belle!
You can watch the full documentary here:
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