Failed marriage, stroke, lost P20 million: How Hey Pretty CEO bounced back from ugly experiences
MANILA, Philippines — Hey Pretty's Chief Executive Officer Anne Barretto revealed that she struggled a lot last year that’s why she took a break and made a social media hiatus.
In an exclusive interview with Philstar.com during the opening of the beauty clinic’s Bonifacio Global City’s new branch recently, Anne said she got separated with her husband.
“Ang daming nangyari noong 2024 na hindi ko inakalang dadating sa akin. Nag-hiwalay kami ng husband ko. Medyo shock ako no'n kasi nga parang biglaan. Pag-uwi ko ng bahay, wala na siya. Parang gano'n 'yung story. Umalis po siya,” she said.
“As a single mom, nahirapan po talaga kong i-manage 'yung 30 plus branches namin. Wala 'kong masandalan. 'Yung pundasyon na sinasandalan ko ay nawala,” she added.
Apart from personal struggles, Anne said that her business and health also suffered last year.
“Sa business naman may mga bad decisions akong nagawa, not exactly bad decisions, kumbaga hindi lang nag-materialize 'yung plans ko. Ang laki ng lost ko last year. Umabot siguro ko ng P20 million. After po no'n, dumating si ‘Karina.’ Ang tagal na namin sa opisina hindi naman binabaha. No'ng time na 'yon, washed out talaga lahat ng gamit naming sa office, computer, documents, even 'yung mga company cars namin washed out,” she said.
“Do'n na po talaga parang gumuho na 'yung mundo ko kasi parang sunod-sunod 'yung nangyari. After po no'n, nagka-mild stroke ako. Siguro 'di ko po talaga kinaya 'yung problems. Do'n na totally talaga nag-stop ako sa social media, paglabas ko sa magazines talking about business kasi feeling ko hindi na 'ko qualified para humarap sa media,” she added.
Anne also shared how she got back from the “horrors” of her life last year.
“Pinalakas ko 'yung sarili ko sa pagbabasa, kung paano ko maco-cope 'yung ganitong problem. So talagang tinulungan ko 'yung sarili ko na makabangon. Sabi ko last year, promise ko ngayong taon na mas babawi ako para mag-expand pa 'yung business ko,” she said.
“'Yon din ang maganda sa akin I think. Super positive ko sa lahat ng problem. Whenever ako nakakaramdam ng problem, pinapalitan ko ng positibo. Iniisip ko palagi hindi lang ako 'yung may ganitong problem, mas marami pang mabibigat na problema kesa sa akin at lahat ng problema ay natatapos. So alam ko lahat ng mga pinagdadaanan ko, dadaanan ko na lang at magiging inspiration at motivation na lang,” she added.
With her moving on from her painful experiences, Anne said that the year 2025 entered smoothly.
“Ang ganda po ng pasok ng taon kasi may bago kaming franchisee, may bagong open na branch. Ang goal po talaga namin is mag-expand pa ng mas maraming branches,” she said.
Hey Pretty is a beauty, cosmetic and personal care aesthetic center. It has over 30 branches nationwide.
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