Juggling her competition prep and academic grind at the same time makes for a seriously hectic schedule for Marian Pimenta, an 18-year-old freshman trying to win a nationally televised singing competition. 

What makes her ‘The Clash 2025’ stint– the first ever singing contest Marian has ever joined– even sweeter is a self-imposed goal to go out of her box and beat an inner demon: social anxiety. 

“Ang winning para sa akin– gusto ko lumabas ng comfort zone ko, maalis ko lahat ng doubts ko sa sarili ko,” she said in a conversation with GMA Regional TV News. 

For one, some of Marian’s battles are against aspects that are intrinsic to her persona. 

In an earlier television interview on “The Clash,” the 18-year-old Batangueño revealed that she is a very “shy girl” with social anxiety, which she hopes to be addressed on the Clash Arena stage. “...lagi pong nagse-self doubt sa potential ko. I think ito yung isa sa magandang stepping stone ko para ma-overcome yun.” 

For the 18-year-old Batangueño, joining the Kapuso singing reality show is not only about winning the trophy. She considers it as a meaningful task as she slowly leaves her shy bubble. 

Marian also admits having to sacrifice rest and some me-time in order to attend to her The Clash commitments without deprioritizing school. 

As an Electrical Engineering major at De La Salle Lipa, she has to travel from her hometown to Quezon City and vice versa on a weekly basis to cater to both endeavors. 

“Yung dati ko pong life bago ako sumali sa The Clash, sobrang simple lang po, gusto ko lang ng academics, maging stop student, pero ngayon– never ko inexpect na magiging nasa TV ako and sobrang hirap po nito kasi ito yung outside my comfort zone,” Marian bared.

“Since dati po fulltime nasa school lang ako. Nag-start na kasi ako ng advance classes last week, so buong week na umaga nasa school ako, tapos luluwas ako ng hapon para mag-commute papuntang Manila. Mahirap talaga kasi pabalik-balik ako from province to Manila,” she explained. 

Even Marian’s winning piece– should she reach a point where she would have to choose one– is about challenging her own limits.

“Yung genre ko kasi, new songs. Kaya if ever gusto ko sa winning piece ko is old songs pero own rendition. Yesterday by The Beatles (1965). Gusto ko lumabas sa comfort zone ko, kaya old songs,” she added. 

“Lahat gagawin ko para ma-overcome ko yung fears ko.”