Socialite, entrepreneur and vlogger Small Laude didn’t expect her newfound fame through vlogging in her 50s. The YouTuber with over 1.7 million subscribers is actually “overwhelmed” by the attention that she is getting from the public.
During a press event of Corbridge Group Philippines with Small as the company’s official endorser for Power Melo and Merixin Turmeric products, the bubbly and glamorous content creator shared how “happy” and “grateful” she is doing vlogs and endorsements.
What started out as “just having fun” in vlogging turned out to be what she enjoyed doing the most in the long run.
“I just saw people like vlogging,” she recalled. “And I said, I can just give it a try. I saw that they were having fun and I had fun when I did it at first. I continued for a while and then stopped, and I did it again during the pandemic because I had nothing to do at home. And then that time, sobrang nag-continue na.”
She didn’t imagine that the vlogging thing would blow up this big. “I was like parang pa-retire na,” she said. “I was working with my family and now parang, I laid low and then this vlogging happened. Now, I’m super… I’m working (and) I’m active, considering that my age is (the) golden age. But I’m enjoying lang talaga the moment.”
Small’s family was reluctant at first of her joining the world of vlogging. But when they saw that she was happy with what she was doing, they offered their full support to her. Subsequently, her family would appear in her vlogs, including her Ate Alice Eduardo and “angels.”
Small has four children — Christopher, Michael, Timothy, and Allison — to business tycoon Philip Laude.
“Actually, at first, my kids were so reluctant about it and they were not supportive but now they are happy because they see me happy daw. And they are more comfortable now with the camera. Before talaga, they were so aloof, you know,” she uttered.
“She is relaxed na,” she also described her Ate Alice, the construction magnate. “OK na sila with camera. Dati talaga sobrang no. They got used to it, even my kids, even Phil, even my sister Alice. Mas comfortable na sila sa camera.”
Small’s piece of advice to those who want to try vlogging is to be “authentic.” “You have to be real. Because the people nowadays know. They can feel you. They know. They can see. So it’s really the authenticity. Be true to yourself,” she said.
Apart from her successful vlog and some endorsements, many were curious if she would also venture into acting. She already did a special appearance in the show Mano Po Legacy: The Flower Sisters last year.
While she already has offers to do movies, she is kind of hesitant about acting. She explained, “Parang siyempre, we have to be selective and careful so parang hindi ako pang-showbiz. Only parang influencer and vlogger lang. But, of course, meron akong mga cameo role. Yun pwede but not talaga yung movie.”
She is also having second thoughts with filming because it requires more time on set and she has to memorize lines. “(Because of) time and you have to memorize. You have to be on the set. While on vlogging, I have my own time,” she explained.
“This one maybe you have to be working with others and my family is also reluctant about it (for me to be in showbiz). Parang not… I’m 50-plus parang I know I cannot na (laughs.)”
Nonetheless, Small named two actors she would like to work with — Marco Gumabao and Paulo Avelino.
The celebrity vlogger also shared that her secret to staying fit and healthy, aside from the products that she is taking (Merixin capsule and turmeric and Power Melo juice drink), is eating healthy food and doing exercise 30 minutes a day.
Moreover, Small noted how making her life available to the public had made a positive impact on other people.
“I’m enjoying (sharing my life to the public) because people come up to me and they say, ‘You know Ms. Small, don’t ever change ‘cause you make us happy and you know you helped me with my depression.’ Oh my God! It touched me talaga,” she exclaimed.
“Like, oh my gosh, naiiyak ako when they say, ‘I had my chemo, I had my treatment.’ And you know, parang with studies, maraming may depression. I got so many messages like thousands and they said, ‘Help us with our depression.’ It’s like an achievement for me ha, thinking that I help people with their depression is such a… I’m so thankful na nakaka-help ako in that way. And now, I found the purpose of what I’m doing.”
She went on, “Before my family would say, ‘Why are you doing this? Parang naglalaro ka lang.’ (But) now, I found my purpose, like helping people with depression. And now I realized, ‘Oh my God. God, you just gave me this. You gifted me with this, to help people with their depression.’ So, I’m so happy.”
On a personal note, while Small is always cheerful in her vlogs, she has her “sad moments,” too. “Of course, I have a low day but most of the time I’m really happy.” She just prays and tries “to look at the brighter side” when things get rough.
So, is there anything else she would like to achieve more in life? She replied, “You know, I’m so grateful for what I have now. I’m so just content with what is given to me. I cannot ask for anything more like I have my four kids, happy family and people love me and I have my parents. I’m so blessed with family so that’s it and good health, of course. So, I cannot ask for anything more.”