A lovelier Lovely Rivero

MANILA, Philippines - Hers is one of the prettiest faces in That’s Entertainment. Lovely Rivero’s star shone at its brightest back in the ‘80s.

She remains beautiful today, now that she’s in mid-life.

Still, Lovely admits there were times she looked in the mirror and saw an ugly, old woman. She started putting on weight and her usual exercise and diet regimen didn’t seem to work as well as they used to.

Stubborn fat appeared in unflattering places. Her clothes didn’t fit anymore. She felt depressed and lost interest in making herself beautiful.

With the new year coming in, Lovely decided to do something new.

“The new year always gives us hope and renewed enthusiasm to start fresh and try and be better persons. I felt it is a good time to have a better body and start feeling good about myself again,” Lovely shares.

And so, at the start of 2010, Lovely underwent a total body liposculpture procedure.

“I wanted to feel good about my body and myself again. In show business, you have to look good and younger than your age because that is part of the package. Looking good is an obligation and a responsibility. But, even as a regular person, I believe that when you look good, you feel good and become more productive because you are confident, energetic and full of life,” Lovely says.

“I’m happy beyond words,” says Lovely. “The little pain and discomfort brought about by the procedure was well worth it.”

Lovely underwent the procedure at Contours Advanced Face and Body Sculpting Institute, the first and only cosmetic surgery center in the Philippines certified to do VASER High Definition Liposculpture. The owner, Dr. Claudine Roura, did the procedure herself — removing fat and sculpting Lovely’s arms, back, abdomen, hips, inner and outer thighs, legs and butt.

“People now notice my shoulders are in better shape. I never had the guts to wear sleeveless clothes because I have always been conscious of my arms but now, I’m totally into tube and halter tops,” Lovely beams.

The star of numerous films said she is thankful for the body God has given her and believes enhancements and improvements are part of taking care of that body. For Lovely though, cosmetic procedures are never a remedy for deep-seated insecurities or emotional or mental imbalance. “You must first be a ‘whole’ person inside so that whatever you do to improve your outside appearance can complement what or who you are inside,” Lovely shares.

The actress reveals that she is a simple, low maintenance person. Her beauty regimen is simple as well. She goes for regular facials, wears make-up only when necessary, and never forgets to clean her face every day. She also uses a moisturizer and sunblock. Lovely promises to maintain her new figure through yoga and badminton. She is also trying to live a healthy lifestyle. She does not smoke and only drinks during social occasions.

The lovelier Lovely wants other women to feel good about themselves, too.

She says, “To all the women out there who need a little ‘freshening up.’ If you think undergoing a cosmetic procedure will help you look good and feel better about yourself, do not hesitate. This might be the best gift you will give yourself. I made that choice, and I am very happy with my decision.”