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Big Things Ahead: It's Belle Mariano's Time To Shine Brighter

From the next big thing, Star Magic’s girl-next-door charmer, Belle Mariano, has turned into a certified star

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Grace C. Diez

<p>Prior to being one of the hottest young actresses of today’s generation, <strong>Belle Mariano</strong> started out as a commercial model and as a child actress. Her first-ever acting project was for the <em>teleserye Lorenzo’s Time</em> with <a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/zaijian-jaranilla-his-role-the-broken-marriage-vow/32180" target="_blank">Zaijian Jaranilla</a> and <a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/carmina-villarroel-mmff-2019-horror-movie-sunod/22417" target="_blank">Carmina Villarroel-Legaspi</a>. It was then followed by several acting projects in movies and TV and she eventually became a regular cast member of the kiddie comedy show <em><strong>Goin’ Bulilit</strong></em> in 2012.<br/></p><div><br/></div><p>She still remembers the first time she set foot in <strong>ABS-CBN</strong> and gets sentimental about it: “I started when I was 10 in the industry and started doing <em>Goin’ Bulilit</em> then. I remember just the first time I set foot in this building. <em>Naalala ko pa pumipila ako kumukuha ng</em> access ID, and I just remembered ‘Oh my gosh! This was just once my dream and now I’m able to live it. Now I’m actually fulfilling that little girl’s dream.’ And I’m glad that I’m still here.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0fc44ad1-88d5-4fd1-8eed-9c28bd2c7b9b_belle mariano metro star magic 30-81.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Belle Mariano - Metro x Star Magic 30"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Belle Mariano<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em> Photography by Dookie Ducay  </em></span></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>In 2019, Belle was named as part of that year’s <strong>Star Magic Circle</strong> and subsequently worked as a support in the drama <em><strong>Kadenang Ginto</strong></em>. That same year, Belle was announced as the female lead of <em><a href="https://metro.style/people/digital-covers/hes-into-her-donny-pangilinan-belle-mariano/30584" target="_blank">He’s Into Her</a></em> opposite <a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/donny-pangilinan-on-an-inconvenient-love-interview/34302" target="_blank">Donny Pangilinan</a>. While the series experienced immense success and took her entertainment career to a whole new level, the 20-year-old actress said the start of it all was one of her most painful moments in the business.</p><div><br/></div><p>“When<em> He’s Into Her</em> was just released, a lot of people really didn’t like the idea of me portraying Maxpein’s role. But then, in order for me to deal with that, of course, I’m surrounded by such amazing people. I really focused on the positive side more than the negative. I’m surrounded with my family, my Star Magic family as well. And instead of taking what they’re saying to me as negative, I took it as something that would help me grow and strive for excellence,” Belle smiles.</p><div><br/></div><p>“It was one of the biggest challenges because I had to prove myself to a lot of people. But you know, taking that role… I can say that I’ve grown so much <em>kasi</em> honestly <em>nag</em>-improve <em>din</em> confidence <em>ko</em>. Now, seeing things that way, I can say that I would want to do better and absorb everything I learn and I grow,” she adds.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/4c9e001d-ee9a-4f14-a6a7-d0e1bf2e7949_metro-star-magic-30-belle mariano.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Belle Mariano - Metro x Star Magic 30"/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>In 2020, while the production of <em>He’s Into Her</em> was postponed due to the pandemic, Belle further made her presence in the industry felt, when she was tapped for the prequel of hit 2013 film <em>Four Sisters and a Wedding</em>, titled <em><strong>Four Sisters Before the Wedding</strong></em>, where she landed the role of Gabbie Salazar (previously played by <a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/exclusive-shaina-magdayao-challenging-role/7826" target="_blank">Shaina Magdayao</a>).   </p><div><br/></div><p>Encouraged by the people around her and armed with the right mindset, Belle ultimately succeeded in headlining <em><a href="https://metro.style/people/digital-covers/donny-pangilinan-belle-mariano-hes-into-her-2/32809" target="_blank">He’s Into Her</a></em> with Donny, with the show’s premiere receiving a record-breaking high number of views on iWantTFC and ranking on top of Netflix’s trending list in the Philippines. The success of the show saw the actress scoring brand endorsements and movie projects with her partner Donny. The DonBelle love team has since been unstoppable, as they later starred in films <em><strong>Love is Color Blind</strong></em> and <em><strong>An Inconvenient Love</strong></em>.  </p><div><br/></div><p>Belle thrived as an actress during the pandemic, and one of the most notable highlights of her career, in fact, happened then. She made history as the first Filipina to win the Outstanding Asian Star award at the <a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/belle-mariano-seoul-international-drama-awards/33801" target="_blank">2022 Seoul International Drama Awards</a> in South Korea for her portrayal in <em>He’s Into Her</em>.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/7fe1825e-2baa-4300-afd0-7e2d303b1bd2_belle mariano metro star magic 30-83.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Belle Mariano - Metro x Star Magic 30"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">On Belle: Ensemble by AJ Javier</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>She attributes a part of her success to her <strong>Star Magic</strong> family, saying, “One of my best learnings from Star Magic is to always strive for excellence. I think that’s one thing that I’m really going to carry on not just this year but throughout the years I’m with Star Magic.” </p><div><br/></div><p>Belle notes that while being with the talent management arm inspired her to do her best in her craft, it’s how she’s being treated and the relationships formed that mean more to her.“Other than the fact that, they’re really taking care of me, it’s the bond we’ve created. I’m really close with my managers and with my fellow artists in Star Magic. It’s like my second home <em>na rin</em>,” she shares.</p><div><br/></div><p>With the training and background, as well as wisdom gained from her showbiz experience, Belle intends to move forward with renewed passion that reminds her of why she does what she does in the first place.“What I love most about my work is, ever since, it’s been my passion—acting, just being on screen and entertaining people. Just being able to inspire people and being able to put smiles on their faces—that’s how I see my purpose is here. Up to this day, <em>iyon pa rin talaga iyong</em> feeling <em>kong</em> purpose <em>ko na mapangiti ang ibang mga tao at maimpluwensyahan sila sa mga ginagawa ko</em>,” she concludes, beaming.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/7ff1a7bd-484d-42ff-9c36-94f70554a166_metro-x-star-magic-30-cover-final.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Star Magic artists gathered for a 2022 year-ender cover feature, to cap Metro" s="" celebration="" of="" the="" premier="" talent="" anniversary="" in=""/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Star Magic artists gathered for a 2022 year-ender cover feature, to cap Metro&#x27;s celebration of the premier talent management&#x27;s 30th anniversary in the industry.<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em> Photography by Dookie Ducay and Jharwin Castañeda  </em></span></span></span></span></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/digital-covers/metro-x-star-magic-30th-anniversary-cover/34367" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Star Magic&#x27;s 30th Anniversary Celebration Culminates With This Metro Cover Feature</a></div><div><br/></div><p>Photography by <strong>Dookie Ducay</strong></p><p>Creative direction by <strong>Eldzs Mejia</strong></p><p>Art direction by <strong>Raff Colmenar</strong></p><p>Sittings editor: <strong>Grace Libero-Cruz</strong></p><p>Makeup by <strong>Jake Galvez</strong></p><p>Hairstyling by <strong>RJ dela Cruz</strong></p><p>Styling by <strong>Adrianne Concepcion</strong></p><p>Interviewer: <strong>Grace Diez</strong></p><p>Shoot coordination: <strong>Red Dimaandal </strong>and <strong>Kate Paras-Santiago</strong></p><div><br/></div>