Belle Mariano draws inspiration from mom and fans for showbiz dreams

MANILA, Philippines — There are many belles in showbiz. Belle Mariano is one, who has made a name for herself in the “new normal.”

Her TV series, He’s Into Her, with onscreen partner Donny Pangilinan; digital concert Daylight; singles Kung Ako Nalang and Sigurado, plus an album and movies, are a significant testament to it.

She stands out in a way, given her knack for acting, singing and dancing. The former child star and Goin’ Bulilit mainstay knows that versatility makes a talent stay relevant and succeed in the world of entertainment.

“It’s really important for me to be versatile because performing is my passion,” said Belle in an interview furnished to this paper through Smart. “I’m lucky to start early as a child actor because, in a way, I got to grow, explore, and hone my talents within the industry. My journey is filled with learning experiences and I’m happy that I get to inspire and entertain people by doing the things I love.”

Aside from her network that has paved the way for the artist’s career in entertainment, the newest endorser of Smart Prepaid (for its new Power All campaign) acknowledges the support of her mom, whom she considers her role model.

“I’ve always been grateful for the love and support she has shown me as I continue to pursue my dreams. I can easily say I draw my power from her,” said the 20-year-old Kapamilya star, whose fans also support her in any showbiz work she embarks on. They also express it on social media.

Belle said she finds time to read fan messages, which empower and inspire her.

“I really appreciate it when I read comments or tweets about how my character in a project touches them or inspires people because of my performance,” she shared. “These comments give me a sense of fulfillment and empower me to work harder.” One can say that Belle draws her inspiration from mom and followers to pursue her showbiz dreams and further her career.

With her success story, Belle remains humble.

“Being on the receiving end of all this love and support has really been a humbling experience for me,” said the actress, who begins her day by having a coffee “to power through a busy workday.”

“Like everyone else, I rely on my smartphone all the time — for scripts and shoot schedules and to fill in the breaks via social media, to interact with my supporters online, (listen) to music and (stream) videos,” she added.

So, Belle enjoys the advantages of technologies in her professional and personal lives.

“Yes, our smartphones are extensions of ourselves,” she said. “In a way, our most used apps reflect the passions and hobbies that are important to us. I can’t do without my smartphone because it’s my way to connect with loved ones, especially since we’re still in a pandemic and therefore have a lot of limitations in terms of movement.”

Her go-to apps are Instagram and Twitter, aside from other social media platforms. “I also enjoy scrolling through TikTok because I get to see the latest trends there,” she said.

Belle is the face for the Smart’s new campaign about the connectivity that technologies provide in doing what one wishes like playing, watching, sharing and streaming content and keeping in touch with people.

“I feel excited and grateful because I’ve always wanted to endorse a brand I really trust and rely on,” said Belle.

The campaign video showed her “fluidly adapting to a hybrid world and powering through a whirlwind of online and offline activities, representative of today’s youth,” according to the statement from the telco company. The new Power All 99 allows Belle and Smart Prepaid subscribers to enjoy more data, unlimited calls and texts and TikTok. (More details on https://smart.com.ph/Prepaid/PowerAll.)

Meanwhile, as a personality with a strong social media presence, Belle is also aware of its challenges by saying, “(The platforms) can be challenging at times because of all the bashing and hate comments people deal with on these. What I do is to take all valid criticism in a constructive way, so I can grow and learn from them.” She, however, again appreciates the advantages that such convergence of technologies and the Internet have created for everyone.

“He’s Into Her has been life-changing for many of us in the series,” said Belle. “I guess the Internet made it a lot easier (for us) to get feedback from fans and interact with them, as well as promote the show to a wider audience.”

She added that fans also “went out of their way” in sharing information about her series on social media.