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Kapuso star and “Millennial IT Girl” Gabbi Garcia seems to have it all: beauty, brains, fame–all the wonderful things that kids her age dream about.

But not many know that Gabbi, like many of us, has had bouts of insecurities in the past.

 

@wearemanilax, you were awesome! ???? total adrenaline rush, with passion while I was performing! Shoutout to @theaddlib @addlibladies! ???? thank you, @johnlozano10 @artistcenter @delosreyesjason @markanthonyrosales @iamkatrinacruz @isabelbulatao ?????• photos by: @maureenbathan ???? #ManilaX2018 #ManilaNext

A post shared by Gabbi Garcia ? (@_gabbigarcia) on Apr 15, 2018 at 8:41am PDT

In an interview with GMANetwork.com, Gabbi admits that she used to be insecure about her morena complexion when she was growing up.

“I’ve had issues about it before when I was a kid. Siyempre we all go through that,” she says. “Whenever I would do VTRs for commercials I would be shortlisted but I would always end up not getting the project.”

The 19-year-old Kapuso actress adds that the ones that would get the project were the fair-skinned applicants.

“They would get all the mestizas because that was the mentality before. Only the mesitzas would do the commercials. I was really doubting my skin color that time. But now I really love it.”

It was during her high school years when Gabbi gradually began to appreciate her skin color and the other things that she thought were “flaws” or “imperfections.”

“Siyempre because of pure family support. And my support system was really strong, from my sister, from my friends.”

The former Sherlock Jr. star also credits social media for giving her a means to see other morena girls proudly advocating “self-love” and “self-acceptance.” Through their stories, Gabbi realized that her dusky complexion was not something that she should be ashamed of.

“Social media now kasi, you have to learn to choose which ones are relevant, which ones are irrelevant. And you’d see posts that are inspiring, to read, to look at, and be inspired by other morena girls.”

Gabbi made showbiz headlines when her March 26 Instagram post went viral. Gabbi’s powerful message resonated well with other girls battling self-image issues: “Yes, I have no boobs, I’m flat chested + I have my own fair share of stretch marks. And I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

Gabbi, who wrote her meaningful message in seconds, says of that viral Instagram post: “I didn’t expect it at all to go viral. I was just trying to speak my mind and share my thoughts. I didn’t really post it for the sake of it being viral. I just felt that it was time for me to share my thoughts.”

 

Whenever I post swimsuit photos, people would always bully me for my body. Well, guess what!! Yes, I have no boobs, I’m flat chested + I have my own fair share of stretch marks. And I don’t see anything wrong with it. If your definition of being “sexy” doesn’t fit with my body type, well then sorry, but I LOVE MY BODY. And nobody deserves to be bullied just because of your body. We are all beautiful in our own way! #NoToBodyShaming #LoveYourBody

A post shared by Gabbi Garcia ? (@_gabbigarcia) on Mar 26, 2018 at 8:43am PDT

Gabbi Garcia is currently in London to join a group of beauty personalities and social media influencers from all over the world for an event organized by international makeup brand Maybelline. 

“It’s for an endorsement,” Gabbi says of her European trip. “It’s an event that showcases certain beauty personalities from Europe, from USA, and we’re two from Asia. I’ll be representing the Philippines. And I am super excited to be showing the Filipina beauty out there.”