Actress and style icon Heart Evangelista confessed at the GRWM Cosmetics launch that she was hurt when she was told she would not be cast in a TV series due to her "chinita" eyes.

“Feeling ko, isa ako sa mga unang chinita noong time na ‘yun. In fact, I remember I felt so discriminated kasi may nagsabi sa akin na hindi ako puwedeng mag-telenovela kasi masyado raw maliit ‘yung mata ko. Hindi raw makakapag-express."

"I was so hurt. I felt that I didn’t have bigger eyes. I needed to change my look. I had to be mestiza. I had to look a certain way to get the roles,” Evangelista told ABS-CBN News.

Actress-socialite Heart Evangelista.

Despite being told to look a certain way, Evangelista stated that nothing had changed but her mindset.

“You’re different for a reason,” she said. 

“I believe the only thing that has changed is my mindset. Everything else remained the same. I was able to embrace my features, who I am, and who I was when I was more confident. I witnessed how it made such a significant impact,” said the fashion queen, who is now enjoying her success. 

Evangelista has no intention of leaving the Philippines, despite being in high demand outside the country. 

“I would be nothing without the Philippines. My following is in the Philippines. I never intended to leave and not come back. I’ll always come back. This is my home. This is where my dreams came true. Everything else outside is a little cherry on top pero ito talaga ‘yung kabuuan ng career ko. They support me. I support them,” she shared. 

The Filipina pride was unveiled as the face of GRWM Cosmetics, owned by Mae Layug Madriñan. When asked about individuals who criticize men who use cosmetics, she remarked, “I don’t have a message to those shaming, only to those who want to express themselves. Do what you want. Do what you feel looks good on you, what makes you feel good. You only live once. Be yourself and live your life.”

Evangelista also said she is at peace and content with her life, with her spouse Senator Chiz Escudero being the primary source of her happiness.

“Kahit anong ganda mo, kung hindi ka naman masaya, ‘yun naman talaga eh. Nagawa ko na ‘yun before eh. Hindi pala ako masaya. Ngayon, very Chiz-y life na. It really matters when you’re at peace and when you’re happy,” she expressed.

“Everybody I love, everybody is okay, and that’s really true wealth. Happy na ako."