Maricar Reyes: The 24-karat doctor-actress

MANILA, Philippines - From the moment Maricar Reyes entered show business two years ago, it didn’t take long for people to realize she was a cut above the rest. Her credentials — a BS Biology degree from the Ateneo de Manila with a medical education from the University of Santo Tomas — spoke for themselves. A commercial model, she made her mark in the business by how well she registered on camera and, more important, how well she carried herself off it.

Maricar, who endorses Karat World, has given the public many reasons to admire her. The 25-year-old actress and model’s l strength of character makes her her an inspiration for women.

Her star rose quickly, perhaps faster than most people expected. Star Magic head Johnny Manahan paved the way for her entry into the business. Although she did not have any real acting experience save for her TV commercial, he invited Maricar to join the network’s stable of stars. He put her through acting workshops with some of the best creative mentors in the business. In a 2008 interview with ABS-CBN.com, Maricar recounted that auspicious start. “They asked me to come in, punta naman ako, pinaaaral muna ako.”

Appearing in I Love Betty La Fea — and working with more seasoned actors like John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo — gave Maricar confidence to take the next steps toward becoming a real star. In her first movie, the romantic drama And I Love You So which starred Bea Alonzo, Sam Milby and Derek Ramsay, Maricar’s performance earned her a New Movie Actress of the Year nomination from the Philippine Movie Press Club’s Star Awards for Movies. On TV, she appeared in the afternoon drama Precious Hearts Romances and moved on to primetime, where she agreed to become deglamorized for a role as a taong-grasa in the surprise hit May Bukas Pa, proving how versatile she is as an actress.

Maricar has shown how strong, independent-mided and driven she is. As Karat World endorser, she will help communicate the brand’s message that women deserve the finest in life simply because they are who they are.