Some people are simply born to perform in the spotlight. Zsa Zsa Padilla is one of them. Performing was a gift she didn’t have to search for, because it had always been a part of her. 

As a little girl, she loved humming melodies and was naturally drawn to music. Back in grade school at Holy Child Parochial School, she had her first public performance, singing "Top of the World" alongside her cousin and schoolmate, Gino Padilla, at a school program where they also served as emcees.

She adored the Carpenters as a child and vividly remembers borrowing her aunt’s player just to listen to their songs, sometimes even tearing up while listening. Young Zsa Zsa couldn’t explain why melodies and lyrics moved her so deeply, but looking back, she realizes it was her artistic side coming out even as a kid.

At 17, she became part of the Hotdog band before eventually going solo. She made her debut on the concert scene as a guest act in the Bad Bananas (Christopher de Leon, Edgar Mortiz, Jay Ilagan, and Johnny Delgado) Valentine show at Mandarin Oriental in 1983. It was Johnny "Mr. M" Manahan who directed the concert and personally invited her as a guest performer. That's how her working relationship with Mr. M started, eventually leading to her becoming a part of "ASAP," of which Mr. M was the pioneer director. To this day, she considers him one of her greatest mentors.

She had her first major solo concert a year later, in 1984, at Araneta Coliseum. Back then, stepping onto that stage was the ultimate milestone for any concert performer. "Umaangat ako, may riser na kasi, eh, pa-high tech na kami no'n, 1984. I can't hear a thing because I could hear my heart beating. Talagang nabibingi ako dahil sa nerves. Siyempre, 'di ba, it was a sold-out crowd. Nakita ko lahat ng tao, parang 'Oh my God! This is it!'" she recalled that exact moment she opened the concert. "May insecurities ka rin na, 'Deserve ko ba 'to? I'm so lucky, I'm so blessed,' while everything was going."

She still vividly remembers the crowd going wild when she performed "We're All Alone," her first monster hit that dominated the charts and became her most requested song for two years straight. She remembers taking in the crowd’s loud cheering. The audience responded to each number with overwhelming energy. It was truly a night to remember, and even after the show ended, Zsa Zsa was still on a high. "Of course, it lives in your head for a while, but I've always told myself, 'You have to be humble because that happened and that's in the past.’" 

That’s how Zsa Zsa has stayed grounded over the decades while holding the crown as the country’s Divine Diva. "Kasi 'pag lagi mong iisipin 'yung moment na 'yun, hindi ka na makakababa... It was a moment but of course it won't last forever." She humbly admits that sometimes she no longer always receives the same level of energy from the audience as she did in her peak years. But instead of letting that discourage her, she finds ways to connect, such as by stepping off the stage to engage with the crowd. For Zsa Zsa, performing is like having a conversation with the audience, whether she’s in front of thousands or just a single person in the room. 

Prayer is a huge part of her performances. Before stepping on stage, she prays for her voice, for a great show, and for confidence, especially on days when she doesn’t feel at her best. One of her little tricks to boost confidence is taking deep breaths backstage, or even doing the 'Superman pose' (both hands clenched into fists and placed firmly on the waist, with the chest pushed out confidently). Like any performer, she experiences anxiety, and of course, personal struggles don’t just disappear behind the camera. But through the years, she’s learned to manage it by acknowledging what she feels and choosing to let positive thoughts win over the negative.

This Kapamilya Chat throwback session continued with Zsa Zsa being asked about her first big purchase using her talent fee. She recalled buying a beat-up Volkswagen Passat for ₱10,000—or maybe even ₱9,000 since she might have bargained for a lower price. "Kasi 'yun lang ang kaya ng budget ko," she laughed. "So, sirain siya," she added, face-palming at the memory. Those were the days—part of her humble beginnings—when she drove a worn-out car and couldn’t even afford a driver.

Speaking of humble beginnings, she also remembers how she used to buy her performance outfits from tiangge. That’s why her advice to her kids is to enjoy shopping smart while they’re young, rather than jumping straight to designer labels.

We all have to start somewhere. And if the Divine Diva herself began with beat-up cars and 'tiangge' outfits, then maybe all of us can dream big too.