If we’re going to have a poster girl for dreams coming true, singer-actress and Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7 Big Winner Maymay Entrata would certainly fit the bill.

Imagine a teenage girl who grew up in Davao and Cagayan de Oro listening to FM radio and simply enjoying the music as she makes it her background while daydreaming. Fast forward to today, her dreams are coming true one by one. Like a fairy tale come to life, she lands the stint of lending her voice to the Filipino version of Disney’s Snow White theme song “Waiting on a Wish,” titled “Nasaan Ang Hiling?"

Snow White is the live-action adaptation of the 1937 Disney animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The film, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, tells the story of a princess who joins forces with seven dwarfs to liberate her kingdom from her cruel stepmother—the Evil Queen.

Maymay, wearing a Snow White costume by Ehrran Montoya | Photography by Louis Duran

Maymay was elated, incredulous, and surprised when she found out she was tapped by Disney to sing the localized theme song.

“Totoo ba talaga? Ako ba talaga? [Is it really true? Is it really me?],” Maymay said in disbelief. Apart from recording the song, she also filmed a music video and starred in a themed photo shoot. This is a remarkable milestone, especially for someone who grew up watching movies and listening to songs from Disney. 

“I remember po nu’ng nag-shoot kami ng music video, sobrang naging emotional ako because I’m just like Snow White. I’m also a dreamer kagaya niya. Dumating din po sa buhay ko many times po talaga, especially when I was younger and nu’ng college ako, na hindi ko alam kung ano ’yung magiging future at direction ko. It was unclear po talaga. Very blurry. Pero dahil sa dreams ko, parang they helped me feel alive and motivated po, knowing that someday, I’ll be where I’ve always dreamed of being and that someday I’ll be living my dreams [I remember when we did the shoot for the music video, I got really emotional because I’m just like Snow White. I’m also a dreamer like her. There were many times in my life, especially when I was younger and in college, when I didn’t know what my future and direction would be. It was really unclear. Very blurry. But because of my dreams, it’s like they helped me feel alive and motivated, knowing that someday, I’ll be where I’ve always dreamed of being and that someday I’ll be living my dreams],” she pensively shared.

Maymay also sees a character correlation to Snow White, making her feel more connected to the song, “Nasaan Ang Hiling?“ “Lumaki ako sa lolo at lola. They’ve taught me po, kahit bata pa lang ako, to treat everyone fairly. Kasi hindi mo alam kung ano ’yung magiging epekto o ano ’yung mabibigay ng kindness mo sa iba kahit du’n sa mga taong mahirap mahalin [I grew up with my grandfather and grandmother. They’ve taught me, even when I was a kid, to treat everyone fairly. You don’t know what its effect or what your kindness could give others, even those who are hard to love],” she reflected. “Snow White has such a big heart. Very emotional ako du’n sa part na hindi niya ma-discern kung sino ang mabait sa kanya o hindi. Basta she treats everyone fairly [Snow White has such a big heart. I’m very emotional about that part where she can’t discern who’s good to her and not. She just treats everyone fairly].” 

Related: 'Nasaan Ang Hiling?"—Maymay Sings the Filipino Version of 'Waiting on a Wish,' 'Disney's Snow White' Theme Song

Not only is Maymay a PBB Big Winner, but she’s also an actress, model, and certified hitmaker with powerful tracks like “Amakabogera” and the newly released “Paradise.” She can now say she’s stepped into the shoes of a Disney Princess, too, with her Snow White stint. 

In time for Women’s Month, we asked this Metro cover girl about the women who inspire her. Her mother and grandmother, no doubt, helped shape the woman she is today. But all these dreams and achievements also wouldn’t have been possible without a mentor who inspired Maymay to pursue her dream and take action.

Maymay credits her school adviser Emiliemar Marata from Loyola Elementary School in Davao for bringing out the best in her. She told Metro.Style, “Masasabi ko po na mentor ko siya talaga. Elementary po ako. Si Ms. Emilie po talaga ’yung unang naniwala sa pangarap ko kasi alam niya na dreamer ako. So sabi niya, ‘Tell me your dreams.’ Sabi ko, ‘Promise, Ma’am, hindi ka po magsasawa na pakinggan po ’yung pangarap ko?’ Sabi niya, ‘No.’ Sinabi ko ang mga pangarap ko sa kanya. Siya rin po ’yung pinakaunang nagsabi sa akin na mag-PBB ako [I can really say she was my mentor. I was in elementary. Ms. Emilie was really the first to believe my dream because she knew I was a dreamer. She told me, 'Tell me your dreams.' I asked, 'Promise, Ma'am, you won't get tired of listening to my dreams?' She said, 'No.' I talked to her about my dreams. She was also the first one who told me to try out PBB],” she smiled at the memory.

Maymay feels it’s such a powerful boost to have someone to talk to about your dreams and feel encouraged and supported. She gushed, “I was sharing my dreams po sa kanya. Gusto ko pong makaahon sa kahirapan, mag-flight attendant, at maging artista. Parang siya ’yung naging safe space ko nu’ng panahon na hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin ’yung mga pangarap ko. Sa kanya ako parang naging comfortable. Lahat tayo nagsisimula tayo na may pangarap, pero parang may takot sa sarili natin na ‘Magagawa ko kaya ito?‘ [I was sharing my dreams to her. I wanted to lift myself out of poverty, become a flight attendant and an artist. She was like my safe space during the time when I didn't know how to express my dream. She made me feel comfortable. All of us start with a dream, but it‘s like there's that fear within us, 'Could I possibly do this?']” 

She continued, “But if there's someone, kahit isa lang naman na maniniwala sa pangarap mo, mas magiging motivated ka po e. Tapos lalo na kapag nakita nila ‘yung potential sa iyo and they're being honest about it, mas lalo kang gaganahan to reach for your dreams. It's important po talaga to surround yourself with these kinds of people who would genuinely support your dreams. Masasabi ko, si Ms. Emilie ‘yun. Siya ’yung unang taong naniwala sa pangarap ko [But if there's someone, even just one who would believe in your dream, you'll feel more motivated. Especially when they see your potential and they're honest about it, you'll be more determined to reach for your dreams. It's really important to surround yourself with these kinds of people who would genuinely support your dreams. I can say that's Ms. Emilie. She was the first person to believe in my dream],” Maymay shared with a grateful heart.

Just as someone inspired and motivated her to pursue her dreams fearlessly, Maymay shares the most empowering advice she's ever received.

“Alam po ng mga tao and they see me as an independent woman kasi I’ve been the breadwinner since 19 ako. Pero nu‘ng binitawan ko ‘yung title na ’independent’ and just chose to depend on God, mas naging magaan sa akin. Kasi as tao, may limitations tayo kahit sinasabi natin sa sarili natin na we’re strong. Hindi laging maganda ang nangyayari everyday [People know and they see me as an independent woman because I've been the breadwinner since I was 19. But when I let go of the ’independent’ title and just chose to depend on God, I felt lighter. Because as humans, we have limitations even if we tell ourselves we're strong. Beautiful things don't always happen everyday],” she thoughtfully stated.

For her, the most powerful reminder she was told was simply to let God be in charge. “I shifted my focus, so instead of my strength, I’d rely on God’s strength and guidance. In that way, I find peace in knowing that no matter what challenges or obstacles come my way, I know that He's in control. That gave me the confidence to face anything, knowing that with Him by my side, there are no challenges I won't be able to face. That's how I learned to be fearless, not by relying on my own strength but trusting in God's presence and His power to carry me through all the trials in my life,” Maymay beautifully imparted, adding that depending on God also enables her to free herself from toxic worries—things, we realized, are akin to the poisoned apple offered to Snow White.

Catch Disney's Snow White in cinemas starting March 19!

Photography by Louis Duran

Styling by Rain Dagala and Em Millan

Makeup by Owen Sarmiento

Hairstyling by Jay Wee