For celebrity mom Judy Ann Santos, beauty no longer means perfect skin, a tiny waist, or fitting a mold. At 47, the award-winning actress said her definition of beauty has evolved far beyond appearances.
“Before, for me, when you say beautiful or beauty, it meant clear skin, mestiza features, a slim figure, a 16-inch waist. I never achieved any of that. First of all, just look at me—I’m not mestiza. Second, I never had a 16-inch waist—maybe when I was eight,” she told Manila Standard Life.
That youthful ideal no longer applies. Juday shared that her years in show business, motherhood, and advocacy work have all helped her see beauty differently.
“For me, beauty is really a word that depends on how you define it. It’s not just the physical side. It’s how you treat people. It’s how you see the world. It’s how you help others. It’s how you stay true to yourself,” Juday explained.
“To me, it doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most beautiful woman on earth. But if you have a bad attitude and don’t know how to treat others well, it all goes down the drain,” she continued, saying that her views are personal and not prescriptive.
“But that’s just me, okay? I’m not encouraging you to think the same way. But most of the time, for me, beauty has little to do with the face. It’s really about who you are. It’s how you look at the world. It’s how you give back and how you show kindness. That’s what beauty is for me,” added Juday.
Now the newest face of Bioten Hyaluronic Gold, the actress admitted she was surprised when the offer came in.
“I asked, ‘Why me?’ I’m not exactly known for my beauty. But I hit the jackpot. At this point in my life, to be given a beauty endorsement?” she said.
Still, she wanted to be sure it was something she could personally stand behind. After trying it for a week, she found that it naturally aligned with her needs.
“My skincare routine used to have 12 steps. Now it’s five, four if I’m not wearing makeup. Less is more. You have more time to rest, to think about tomorrow, and to sleep early. Sleep is the key, and of course, water,” Juday shared.
“I don’t like thick products. I love that it’s light. It gives my face a different kind of bounce and glow,” she added.
Though flattered, Juday made sure to remain grounded, saying, “Loving yourself is not just about shopping. It’s about how you accept yourself. All of us have imperfections, and that’s totally fine. That’s what makes you perfect, that imperfection.”
When asked when she feels most beautiful, Juday answered, “When I wake up and take a deep breath outside. Even when I wake up at 4:30 a.m. to make food for the kids, even if I’m sweaty and look a mess, I feel most beautiful. Because I know I was able to take care of my children.”
“And I think being a woman and being a mother—regardless if you’re single, separated, or together, you are holy. You are beautiful. You are perfect,” she stated.
