Growing up, Regine Velasquez used to think that she was "ugly."
In an interview with Bianca Gonzalez on her YouTube channel, the Asia’s Songbird opened up about how people would criticize her appearance during the early days of her career.
"Kasi nung '80s, [when] I was starting [out], people know that I can sing. But they didn't really think na I’d make it kasi hindi ako masyadong maganda," she shared. "Hindi ako kagandahan… 'yan ang laging feedback sa akin.
"I was told to my face, ha... Sinasabihan talaga ako, 'Baka hindi ka [sumikat] kasi hindi ka masyadong maganda, siguro dapat mag-ayos ka pa.'"
When asked how the negative remarks affected her, Regine said that it didn't make her feel "insecure."
"I accepted that that's a fact kasi sila 'yong tumitingin, eh," she said. "So, I thought it was a fact… that I’m not pretty, that I was ugly. But in my head, iba 'yong sinasabi ng ulo ko. Sinasabi ng ulo ko parang, 'Wait 'til you hear me sing.'"
The singer went on: "I always have that confidence with my voice. Okay lang if you think I'm ugly. You don't have to look at me. But wait 'til you hear me sing."
According to Regine, having her supportive family, especially her father, by her side has helped her shrug off the unwanted comments about her looks.
"Hindi ako naging insecure kasi my father would always have this way of making me feel confident about myself. Lalo na pag madidinig niya sa harap ko na sasabihan akong pangit. Sabihan niya 'yong tao, 'Kung pangit ang anak ko, ano ka pa?' That's why I never got insecure about my appearance."
Instead of taking criticisms to heart, Regine used them as her motivation to work even harder. "Naging challenge for me," said the multi-awarded singer, who is celebrating her 35th year in the industry. "Sinabihan akong, 'Hindi ka sisikat kasi pangit ka. 'Talaga ba? Let's see. Gagalingan ko pa."
Watch the full video here:
