Francine Diaz on body shaming (Sabong News)

Young star Francine Diaz recently revealed that just like most celebrities, she also has her fair share of bashers. In an interview, the 18-year-old Kapamilya star recalled how she would often encounter comments mocking her face as like that of a “siopao.” Some point to her having a naturally petite figure as that of someone looking “malnourished.” Good thing she’s the kind of person who simply “absorb” harsh comments, using these as “motivation.” “Kahit gaano ako nahirapan sa pag-work out dati, ‘yun ‘yung iniisip ko. Tapos every time na naririnig ko ‘yun sa utak ko, mas nagwo-work out ako and I think naging good naman ‘yung resulta niya kasi I can say na nagiging better version na ako ng sarili ko ever since ginawa kong motivation ‘yung mga ganoong comments nila about me,” she related. “Papatunayan ko na hindi ako ganyan,” she added. “Pag mas in-absorb ko, wala eh, ako yung talo. So I have to fight. I don’t have to fight them but I have to fight for myself.” Meanwhile, she advised people to be more careful with their words and to be kinder. As for fans who are experiencing the same, she told them: “Huwag makikinig sa sinasabi sa ’yo ng tao kasi pampagulo lang ‘yang mga ‘yan eh.” “Kung okay ka naman sa sarili mo, tanggap mo ‘yung katawan mo and mahal mo ‘yung self mo, hindi mo kailangang mag-seek ng opinion ng ibang tao kasi mako-confuse ka diyan eh, mga pa-epal sila sa mind natin,” she related. “Kung sa tingin mo walang mali sa ’yo, at wala naman talaga pero sinasabi ng ibang tao na ‘ay dapat mapayat ka, ay dapat ganito ka’ huwag kang makinig sa kanila kasi ginugulo nila ‘yung isip mo. At ‘yun ‘yung pinaka mahirap sa lahat kapag nagulo na ‘yung isip mo kasi diyan ka na rin magkakaroon ng doubt sa self mo, diyan nawawala ‘yung self-love.” Francine then reiterated the importance of focusing on one’s self. “Huwag mong pakinggan ‘yung mga hindi magagandang sinasabi ng tao sa ’yo,” she noted. On the other hand, the actress is grateful that she is in a position to inspire people. Note that she is set to star on the iWantTFC series “Bola Bola” airing from March 26 until April 10. In there, she will give life to an overweight high school student who “embraced” and “accepted” her “insecurities” and turned them into something positive. In fact, she, herself, was inspired getting into her character in the show. She shared: “Habang ako si Thea, kahit fat suit lang po ’yun ah, kahit prosthetic lang ‘pag may nagsasabi na ‘ay, ang taba mo’ kahit pabiro lang siya ang sakit pala. Ngayon, na-realize ko na kahit pala joke lang, kahit hindi mo mini-mean na saktan ‘yung feelings niya, masasaktan pa rin siya. So dapat be careful with yours words and mas maging kind.”