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‘She gets it’: How Paolo Ballesteros’ daughter reacted to his gender expression

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C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:550;line-height:18px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba8JxuQF3YX/" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"> </div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"> </div><div 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style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"> </div></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba8JxuQF3YX/" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Paolo Ballesteros (@pochoy_29)</a> on <time dateTime="2017-11-01T04:52:21+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Oct 31, 2017 at 9:52pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>MANILA — “Walang tanong-tanong, gets na niya.”</p><p>These were Paolo Ballesteros’ candid words in describing his daughter’s reaction to his drag performances and gender expression.</p><p>Ballesteros opened up about his relationship with his only child, 10-year-old Keira Claire, in the August 27 episode of “Tonight with Boy Abunda.”</p><p>The 36-year-old actor, who last year confirmed having a same-sex relationship, said Keira is based in Baguio City with her mother and stays with him in Manila during school breaks.</p><p>“Napaka-arte rin! Gusto rin mag-artista!” Ballesteros said of Keira, who shares the same birthday as him on November 29.</p><p>Aside from being a TV host and actor popularly known for his transgender role in the acclaimed “Die Beautiful,” Ballesteros has made a name in the makeup scene with his viral celebrity transformations.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rftx8lS0RHk?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>“She’s very smart. Walang tanong-tanong, alam niya na ‘yon, gets na niya,” he said, referring to Keira.</p><p>In fact, Ballesteros’ bonding with his daughter includes watching “Ru Paul’sDrag Race,” the long-running US reality competition featuring drag queens. Keira, he said, would even pick up lines from the show and deliver them with the same flair.</p><p>“At saka ‘yung mga gamit ko na pambabae sa bahay, sinusuot niya ‘yung heels, nag-me-makeup [gamit ang] mga makeup ko.</p><p>“‘Pag merong Linggo ng Wika sa school, bonggang-bongga siya! Naka-false eyelashes pa, mahahaba! Mini-makeup-an kong gano’n. Gustung-gusto naman niya.</p><p>“Ayon, she gets it,” said Ballesteros, whose latest role on the big screen, via Black Sheep’s “The Panti Sisters,” happens to be a gay man who dons drag.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_zZKoaIr06Y?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>About his gender identity, Ballesteros has yet to directly mention whether he considers himself gay, bisexual, or transgender — only saying he has not hidden that aspect of him from the public.</p><p>“I am a lady!” he said, laughing, when asked to confirm a statement he made in a previous interview.</p><p>Turning serious, Ballesteros went on: “Thirty-six years old na ako. I don’t care about mga gender-gender. Wala naman akong… ‘Pag sinabi kong hindi, may mag-re-react, ‘pag sinabing oo, ‘Naku, hindi naman na isyu ‘yan! Tagal na!’ I’d rather not answer that.</p><p>“Kung ano ang ginagawa ko, hindi ko naman tinatago. Naka-post naman online lahat.”</p>