But the dream turned into a nightmare.
"I’d cry every night and I never felt so alone," she recalls. Worst, she lost her self-confidence.
Lara would rather not get into details and leave the past behind her. Suffice it to say that she and her former ex-boyfriend filed for a quick divorce in Las Vegas, settled things amicably among themselves, and flew back to the country after four years.
The un-couple returned to the country with children in tow. But they came back to separate homes. Lara and her ex-husband agreed to share custody of the children and remain friends to this day.
Meanwhile, she discovered an inner strength she never thought existed. Lara clung to her faith and a newfound confidence borne out of surviving a crisis in a place far away from home.
"I’m not that impulsive and stubborn anymore," she admits. The pampered princess who had production assistants at her beck and call also learned how to get down and dirty with household chores. Lara proudly relates that she did the laundry, washed the dishes, cleaned the bathroom and took care of the children herself back in the US.
The humbling experience proved that old saw true all over again: What won’t kill you will make you stronger.
It took her some time to decide to pack her bags and return home. But when she realized it was time to move on, Lara didn’t look back and did just that.
Lara also realized another thing: she missed showbiz like crazy. Showbiz, she concludes, is her life. Whenever she watched a TV show, the star of many a sexy movie told herself she should be the one standing there, performing. This time though, she’d rather leave the baring and daring to today’s sexy stars. No use competing with those younger ones, she told herself.
And so she’s presenting the all-new Lara Morena. The oriental looks and the slim body are still there. But this time, they are not for baring on screen, but for dishing out R&B, pop, Britney Spears and Beyoncé numbers. Yes, Lara has discovered the singer in her. And she’s bent on showing this to all and sundry.
The push came from The CompanY’s Reuben Laurente, who recently embarked on a solo career himself. He saw her perform at Kento’s Bar in Makati and said, "You have audience rapport, which is the most important thing for a singer."
It was music to Lara’s ears. That stint led to another and Lara, who directed the show herself, regained her confidence. She lost no time in giving it another shot.
The result is Lara Revealed, an intimate show at Makuhari Bar and Restaurant in Malate on Friday, March 24. Lara will sing with a band and dance in costumes Regine Tolentino designed. The Viva Hot Babes will dance with Lara, who has her hands full with singing engagements right after this.
"The title of the show proves that I still have a lot of myself to reveal to the audience. These are the things they’ve never seen me do before – like perform before an audience," says Lara.
She flies to Iloilo, then to Bangkok for a corporate event after the Manila show.
Someone suggested a number with her musically-inclined daughter (a student at International School), but Lara declined. The little girl is fine enjoying a normal childhood. And her father agrees.
The suitors are many. But Lara would rather concentrate on re-establishing herself in showbiz first, thank you. And of course, the guy should also get along well with her children, whom she pampers like crazy.
Lara can only hope the public will welcome her with open arms, now that she’s back – better and stronger after grappling with her personal demons. Most of all, she’s doing what she loves best. And that makes a whale of a difference.