At 21, Andrea Brillantes knows what she wants, including where to invest her hard-earned money.
The Gen Z actress has recently acquired P2.5 million worth of shares in LVNA by Drake Dustin, a Filipino-owned luxury jewelry brand. Andrea’s latest venture shows she’s well-aware that a career in entertainment might not last forever.
“Bago po lang kasi ako sa pag-bi-business-business,” said the former child star who also owns a beauty brand. “Something sparked in me that I also want to be a businesswoman and not just an actress.
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Making investments is something she and her close circle of friends are very much interested in these days. “Iba kasi topics namin before. Mas napag-uusapan na talaga namin (ngayon) mga investment, the value of the things that we buy, hindi lang basta-basta ngayon,” she said. “We just try to be wiser in terms of our choices involving money.”
So why a jewelry business? She said she’s always been into it. “In the past, I couldn’t afford it and had many other priorities. Now that I’m a bit more financially stable, I can invest in jewelry for myself. My grandmother, who raised me and loved jewelry, always told me to buy jewelry for myself when I have the money,” she shared.
“Growing up in the industry, I’ve been around many veterans who also say that jewelry is a good investment. I’ve learned a lot from them. Since I was 10 years old, working on (the series) ‘Annaliza,’ I’ve been aware of the value of jewelry — it’s not just a statement piece, but also a real investment.”
She recalled that the first jewelry she purchased with her showbiz earnings was a bracelet for her grandma. She also bought her mom a wedding ring because she never experienced wearing one.
While Andrea is now collecting jewelry pieces for herself, one thing she dreams of getting herself next is — believe it or not — a crown.
The “High Street” star revealed, “Gusto ko rin magka-crown. I don’t know if ako lang nakakaisip nun. But I joined a pageant when I was a kid and until now the crown (from that pageant) is with me. It’s super small lang. I’m really into crowns. Tapos yung idol ko, si Kylie Jenner, she’s one of the people who inspires me, alam niyo ba nag-crown shopping siya dahil lang trip niya? So I hope in the future, I could do that.”
Andrea, who was gifted by LVNA (pronounced as Luna) CEO Drake Dustin Ibay her first diamond ring, admitted that being a fine jewelry endorser and shareholder has raised her standards. It was pointed out during the intimate media interview how this could intimidate a future special someone who might want to give her a ring, for example.
“For me, hindi naman siya about the money. Especially if it’s a wedding ring, parang meron stigma or like, yun talaga ang meaning niya — kung ano ang value mo dun sa bride or wedding mo. How much you are willing to provide or to give for your love, for your wife,” she opined.
“Ako po kasi, I think, hindi ako papayag sa P200 (ring) just because nasa parang personality na yun lang ba ibibigay mo sa akin? Parang hindi naman siya sa cost (but), mas how much are you willing to give, to commit sa ring na ‘to, sa relationship natin. Especially a wedding ring, it’s like the start, a symbol of commitment to each other.
“Also, ang hirap lang ngayon, pinataas nung LVNA yung standards ko. Meaning, he just has to work harder, whoever he is,” she quipped.
Andrea, who recently went viral for showing up in bridal wear at the Manila fan meet of “Queen of Tears” star Kim Soo Hyun, also gamely named qualities she hopes to find in her future partner. “It’s not my dream to marry a foreigner or what. Wala sa lahi, it’s more on morals and character,” she said.