Definitely all grown up now, Andrea “Andi” Eigenmann looks every inch a lady after celebrating her debut last July. “After I turned 18, people have been telling me that I look ‘womanized.’ Like my aura is starting to change and parang they can see that I’m becoming more and more mature. They’ve been asking me if I have a love life now. I tell them, ‘Maybe, I don’t know,’” she shares while laughing.
After doing the afternoon soap opera Prinsesa ng Banyera, the only daughter of veteran actors Jaclyn Jose and Mark Gil has proven that she definitely inherited some strong acting genes. “It was a really great experience doing the show and it’s so much fun working, especially since I love drama. I was the unluckiest character in that show but I still enjoyed the whole experience,” she adds. Playing Sandy, a tough character who had to go through so many adult situations like being forced into the flesh trade and then getting married, pregnant, and eventually separated seemed like a challenge for the then 17-year-old Andi. “My friends nga would get so shocked because I look so different during my normal days compared on the days when I’m at work. But that’s fine. It’s okay lang with me because I’m playing a role naman eh,” she says.
Andi is all set to start her freshman year at the College of St. Benilde in Manila, taking up a course in fashion design. “I’m very excited. I get influences from fashion icons like Gwen Stefani—very funky. But at the same time, there’s also a touch of classic from Chanel,” she shares. On her free days, Andi tries to hone her fashion talents. “Basically I just stay at home and use the computer or I draw. I make the most of my time by drawing stuff and I plan when I can buy fabrics and when I can get clothes made. I’m so into fashion. But from time to time I hang out with my friends just to catch up on things. Pero not so often kasi my other friends are at school din naman or the others are busy with work,” she says.
After her short stint inside the Pinoy Big Brother house last summer where she requested to leave the house earlier than expected, Andi shares a valuable lesson she got from the whole experience. “No one ever thought I was a crybaby, even I didn’t think I was a crybaby. It was actually harder than I thought it was, especially for a girl like me. So it really touched my soft spot. I learned to be sensitive. I keep saying this now, you won’t know what you actually have until it’s gone. Since I was deprived of all the things I’ve been used to having,” she admits.
Growing up in a showbiz family, Andi isn’t new to the limelight. Which is why she chose to defer her studies at a later time. “Well, for me naman, I guess there’s always time to start studying fashion. Since I’m on the verge of making a career pa lang naman ‘di ba? Who knows how long I’m going to last in this industry so right now I’m taking this into priority,” she stresses. Andi admits she would love to do more drama projects and also get into hosting and become a VJ.
Now that she’s of legal age, Andi chooses to not get into a relationship right away. “I’m not dating anyone. It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that I’m the type who actually waits. I can tell if that person is right or if he’s worthy to be given a chance for me,” she admits. But like any 18-year-old, the pretty mestiza does admit to having a celebrity crush or two. I’m shy eh. Pero siguro si Bamboo (Mañalac, lead singer of the band Bamboo). Wala lang I just love him. Kasi I’m also into music and he’s one of the very few artists that I really love here in the Philippines. I also like John Lloyd (Cruz). He’s so guwapo. And I don’t think I’m the only one who thinks that way, obviously,” she confesses, laughing.
Bring brought up by one of the industry’s most prolific actresses does have its own perks. Aside from being an excellent performer, Jaclyn Jose is also a very hands-on mother. “She’s always been there for me. She supports me and everything. She gives me advice and acting tips. It’s not like she’s there the whole time to teach me everything that I’m supposed to do because I know she believes in me. She trusts me,” Andi confides. With over 75 movie projects, it’s understandable that Andi has yet to catch all of her mom’s flicks. “I’ve been able to watch a lot of her movies, but not all of them though. My favorite so far is Olongapo: The Great American Dream. I loved it. Because it just proves that my mom has so much finesse. I just liked the story and the plot of the movie,” she says. Andi also shares her favorite lesson her mom taught her. “As long as you believe in it, it will come true. Like whatever your heart desires, if you really want it then it will really happen,” she concludes.
