‘Just because you’re not like everyone else doesn’t mean you’re bad’

MANILA, Philippines - You may or may not see Andi Eigenmann on TV for a while as she’s mulling a break what with the conclusion of her ABS-CBN soap opera Dyesebel.

What kind of break does she have in mind?

Travel. Move out of her mom’s home. And of course, spend more time with two-year-old daughter Ellie.

That’s what the 24-year-old actress enumerated in an interview when she was introduced as the newest endorser of the clothing brand Black Sheep.

“I’m probably going to go on a vacation. (I’m going to take a) rest first because since I gave birth, I’ve never been out of work. I’ve been working and working and I really consider that as a blessing and I’m very grateful for that.

“(But) maybe after Dyesebel, it’s about time to rest. Not do TV for a while, maybe travel around Asia — learn about the culture and all — because that’s what I love to do. I’m looking forward to go to certain places I’ve never been before.”

As for moving out of her mother Jaclyn Jose’s house and into her own condo unit with Ellie, she said, “I don’t necessarily have to do it, but I want to do it for myself.”

And it would also seem that whatever reported mother-daughter rift there was had already been smoothened over and isn’t the reason behind her decision.

“Actually, my mom has been living in (Laguna) and then in our house (in Quezon City), back-and-forth siya. (I’m not necessarily moving) away from my mom, but the past years, hindi ko na rin talaga siya nakakasama sa bahay every day. But it’s only that (my moving out) is gonna happen now because I have my own house — a condo unit — but it doesn’t really mean I’ll be away from family, as I’m pretty sure they’ll be in my house all the time because of Ellie.”

 She added, “(My mom’s) excited for me because we both like designing. She’s excited to help me buy things for my place, design my living room, my kitchen.”

More importantly for her, it’s learning to live on her own. “I’m already 24, I’m of age. (I’m moving out because) I want to learn to be independent in that sense and especially now that I have my daughter.”

According to Andi, the great thing about being a mother is that she always has someone with her. Her toddler is also turning out to be a mini-version of herself. “Just like me, she’s a very unique kid. She’s an oddball just like me… She does things on her own at two years old. And she’s not shy. The difference between her and me though, she’s friendlier than I am, she’s more of an extrovert than I am so she’s always on the set with me.”

Andi said that she enjoys being an “oddball” and she believes that’s why she was selected as the new face of Black Sheep. That, and her being a fashion plate (according to Black Sheep execs) whose fashion icons and tastes spell eclectic, from Audrey Hepburn to Kylie Jenner, from classy and chic to fun and edgy.

Maybe due to issues in relation to her love life and being a single mom, Andi admitted that she’s been tagged black sheep (the idiom not the brand) but she doesn’t allow it to bother her. “A lot of times in the industry (I’ve been called that), it’s not something that I take as an insult or I take offense with. Maraming beses I was mistaken for, you know, there had been certain issues that happened that got to certain things in my life that people thought I was that way, but in reality no, just because you’re not like all the rest, it doesn’t mean you’re bad, right?”

“(Black sheep) is a cool name (and for me, it’s about) being fearless, and being able to express in your own way… And I didn’t enter this business to be like everyone else.”

It appears like she’s also not one to really care for other labels like “hot momma.” “Kahit ano lang. Whatever they wanna think of me, it will depend on them. It’s not something that I can teach them. But what makes me extra happy is when they notice my work. For me, it’s not really the image or the way that I look, I really want to be known more for what I do. ”

Meanwhile, Ellie is now following in the footsteps of her mom as a fashion endorser, becoming the newest and youngest face of Goody Girl accessory line. Andi said Ellie is becoming opinionated on what she wears, going for “nothing boring, still. She wants something comfy but she’ll pick the most colorful one.”