For actress Kaila Estrada, beauty goes beyond appearances. Speaking at a recent event, the rising star shared her thoughts on empowerment, self-acceptance, and the evolving beauty standards that have helped redefine what it means to be a Filipina.
“For me, an empowered woman is someone who is confident, resilient, stands firm in her values, knows her worth, and faces challenges with grace,” Kaila told Manila Standard Life.
She also reflected on her struggles with self-image growing up, particularly as a morena at a time when mainstream beauty standards favored lighter skin tones.
“I had certain insecurities around my skin. When I was going through puberty, of course, the pimples were really bad. And my sisters have always had amazing skin,” she admitted.
“Of the siblings, I am the morena. I took after my dad’s skin tone. Although I found other people beautiful, for some reason, when I looked at myself, I wasn’t as happy,” added Kaila.
Now, the actress is using her platform to celebrate diversity in beauty. She was recently named the new face of Bare Face, a local beauty brand advocating for natural and authentic Filipino beauty. She sees her partnership with the brand as an opportunity to inspire young women to embrace their own unique looks.
“[Being the ambassador of Bare Face] means a lot to me because growing up, I didn’t think I fit the standard of beauty that was famous, popular, in a sense,” she shared.
“That makes me very proud to be here, to be part of a local brand that champions authentic Filipino beauty and is led by empowered women,” the Incognito star continued.
Kaila then acknowledged how beauty standards have shifted in recent years, creating more visibility for morena women in media and advertising.
“I’m so happy now that the beauty standards have evolved so much. A lot more people, a lot more Filipinas, are proud to be morena—and I’m one of them. It’s changed the mentality of young girls now, and I’m very happy about that,” she stated.
She credits this shift to greater representation in the entertainment industry and advertising, saying that seeing more morena women in the spotlight helped her embrace her own beauty.
“The entertainment industry and print ads play such a huge part in that. We have to be mindful of the impact that ads and TV have because they leave a lasting impression, especially on young people,” said Kaila.
“I saw a lot more artists who were morena, so gorgeous, and constantly in the spotlight. I was able to relate to them and see myself in them,” she added.
Now, as a brand ambassador, Kaila hopes to inspire others in the same way.
“Don’t shy away from creating your seat at the table. And if you don’t feel like you have a seat at the table, bring your own chair,” she advised, encouraging young women to carve their own paths.
Bare Face, known for its commitment to inclusivity and self-love, sees Kaila as the perfect representation of its values. With her at the forefront, the brand aims to continue challenging outdated beauty standards and celebrating Filipinas of all backgrounds.