Iya & Nikki: Be positive

MANILA, Philippines - What do Iya Villania and Nikki Gil have in common? Apparently, a lot.

They are often tagged as showbiz’s good girls for maintaining wholesome images in the years that they’ve been in the business.

Despite the demands of their careers, both managed to become proud owners of college degrees — Iya, 25, took up Psychology while Nikki, 24, finished English Literature.

And they’re somehow taking the same route since entering the industry nearly around the same time (Iya in 2004 and Nikki in 2005). Both were discovered as singers: Iya used to do front act for visiting Pinoy artists in her former base in Australia, while Nikki got launched by way of a TVC where she was singing while handing out sodas.

Expressive and eloquent as they are, Nikki and Iya have since largely made their mark as TV hosts, but neither have they backed down from opportunities to explore other such fields as acting. For one, Nikki is tackling her first kontrabida role in the ABS-CBN teleserye Mundo Man Ay Magunaw.

They share the same management, but there’s no rivalry between the two as Nikki and Iya claim that they really are good friends, hanging out often whether in good times or bad times. 

The Kapamilya stars also share the same principle when it comes to selecting which products to endorse. “Nothing sexual or anything that will promote sexual content,” Iya said.

The two were recently introduced as the new endorsers of Bioessence beauty and wellness center. They were chosen for their “clean living, which is the very foundation of real and lasting beauty. Science can enhance to a certain degree, but there are no shortcuts to looking good,” Bioessence founder and president, Dr. Emma Guerrero, explained in a media release. 

The STAR had the chance to talk to Iya and Nikki after the contract-signing of their latest endorsement deal. The STAR tried to find out if they also share similar ways in dealing with major challenges as well as those little hiccups in life, career and even relationships. Read on.

On bad hair days and the like:

Iya: You just wet your hair, put mousse to it. I’m enjoying my curly hair right now; it saves me a lot of time. If I feel lousy, normally, dinadaan ko sa damit and make-up. I add foundation, blush, lashes to brighten my eyes. There are days when I feel that I’m not at my best, but I don’t let it get the best of me. Parang, we all know I’m not the most beautiful in the world. But what’s important is loving what you have and knowing what you want.

Nikki: On days when my hair doesn’t cooperate, I pull my hair up. And nakakahinga din yung skin ko. I find red lipstick an instant “prettifier.” I also take a cold shower. There’s no scientific study to prove it but feeling ko lang sumasara yung pores ko. Or I talk to (boyfriend) Billy Crawford. He always makes me feel pretty. He’s my ego-booster. Although sometimes, I know he’s just flattering me, but I still enjoy it. 

On bad days:

Iya: I pamper myself. I go to a salon. There was one time I spent four hours in a spa. I treat myself. Sometimes, retail therapy or kain — my comfort food is ice cream. 

Nikki: Malakas kasi ako maka-attract ng Murphy’s Law (“If anything can go wrong, it will”). If may masama nangyari, sunod-sunod na. I just experienced a really bad day a few days ago wherein I just wanted to go home to my mom and cry. There are really days like that. So what I do is that I stop myself — I stop whatever I’m doing. I breathe, re-assess, change the direction of the day, and pray.

On bad encounters:

Iya: I’ve had my share of bad encounters. Natatawa na lang ako, parang okay.

Nikki: I’ve come across certain people. I just don’t let them get the best of me. I maintain my composure. I still try to leave a good impression. But I try to be not so personal with these people. I have a lot of acquaintances, but I have a few friends like Iya.  

On bad rumors:

Iya: I laugh at them. The usual rumors are that I’ve gotten swellheaded, suplada, but if you really know who you are as a person, and you know those who know who you really are, then you don’t have to defend yourself. It doesn’t affect me — maybe affect me in the sense that I have to be careful next time with my actions because people can easily misinterpret whatever I say or do.  

Nikki: I’m still working on that on how to deal with them. When the rumors affect me, I surround myself with family and friends. 

On bad patches in their relationships:

Iya: We communicate. (When it comes to conflicts), more than (boyfriend) Drew Arellano, maybe sa akin pa, because I’m the one younger, who needs to experience and discover life, and learn about myself. But with Drew, he’s past that, he’s 30 plus, he knows what he wants in life. He’s been very understanding and he allows me to bloom into what God wants me to be.

Nikki: I run to my mom, then my dad (for the man’s point of view) for advice.

On bad career decisions:

Iya: Looking back, I think I could have done better. But it was meant to be. It could have been worse. I was bound to experience those things to discover na dapat pala ganito. It was not a huge regret, but it was a learning experience.

Nikki: I don’t think I’ve ever made bad decisions in my career. If ever man, they were reversible or significant mistakes. But if ever it happens, I don’t believe in regretting things. I’m not afraid of making mistakes. I believe kung nagkamali man, tayo na lang tayo and make up for it.