In a one-on-one interview with OneDown, Nadine Lustre discussed her experiences in overcoming insecurities, embracing her 30s, growing up in the industry, and her mental health.

Reflecting on her journey, Nadine remembered her early years in the spotlight. When asked when she started to really embrace her beauty, Nadine answered, “It didn’t really happen overnight. It was a long process of just learning to accept who I am.”

Nadine recalled that she started hosting at the age of 7 and looking back on it, she said, “It was more of the experience that not every kid who’s my age would get, you know? It was fun for me.”

However, Nadine mentioned, “[In] my teen years, that’s when it got tricky. You start becoming a bit conscious about yourself, and learning [more] about yourself.” She added, “With that learning comes insecurities, confusion, like not knowing what it is that you want to do.”

Nadine said, "I'm proud to be Filipino," expressing her pride in her darker skin tone and reaffirming her identity as a Filipino. "I'm always at the beach, I love the beach. I love surfing, I love swimming, I love hanging out under the sun; it makes me Nadine," she said, highlighting the admiration for Filipino features in a society where lighter skin is frequently preferred. "In some places like other nationalities, they want the skin we have. They like the features we have," she added.

As she reflected on her journey to self-acceptance, Nadine acknowledged that, "I did a lot of things that would just kind of boost up my confidence, and it started with taking glutathione, using whitening products. My insecurities were crazy because of that."

Because of her own experiences, Nadine now advocates for embracing one's unique traits and rejecting societal norms that perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards. Nadine candidly shared her struggles, revealing, "Every time I would be sent home, I would see all the other girls who are mestiza - that made me feel bad."

When asked if there has been anything that really challenged her, or something that she hasn’t opened up about, Nadine briefly talked about her mental health after the passing of her brother. She talked about the emotional struggle she went through while performing, saying, "I was grieving but at the same time, I'm in front of the TV, I had to smile. I had to interact with people like nothing happened, so that was really hard."

Her problems were made worse by the ignorance surrounding mental health issues. Nadine recalled, "How they respond was like 'you just keep working' 'you're going to forget about it,'" underscoring the ignorance and stigma that are pervasive in society.

"Still to this day, every time I think about that time, I still don’t know how I got through that. It was just like autopilot."

Nadine, who is known for her easy charm and grounded personality, said, "I'm a chill person and I'm not used to hearing the word icon a lot."

Nadine emphasized, “I like to keep things simple,” adding that she finds comfort in routine activities.

"Every time people see photos of me online, I always get the comment that I don't wear makeup. I don't dress up in a certain way," Nadine said, before adding, "But the thing is I love dressing up. I love picking out shoes."

Nadine found refuge in Siargao, her haven from the hustle and bustle of Manila. "I look forward to going back home to Siargao, so I can just let go and breathe and not think about anything," she said, highlighting the significance of self-care and mental health. "I can be in Manila for a month and just grinding non-stop," she said.

However, Nadine also acknowledged that not a lot of people have the luxury to go out of town or out of the country to breathe, so she mentioned that she finds happiness and healing even in the little things. “If I can’t go to Siargao, I [will] really take care of myself.”

She said that she takes herself out on dates, eating alone and watching movies alone, adding “When I started treating myself in that way, it healed me a lot."

As Nadine embraces her 30s, she confronted the uncertainties that lie ahead with optimism and grace. She said, "I do think confusion is beautiful," considering the process of growing and discovering who she is. "Once you finally decide or find out what it is that you want to do, you’ll be like, 'oh, okay.' That confusion was a part of me figuring out what I really wanted to do."

Every victory and setback makes her stronger, more radiant, and unabashedly herself. Nadine is still an inspiration to people and a source of empowerment in a world that is constantly changing.

Watch the interview here: