On Kaila: Swimwear by Etam

Kaila Estrada has always been a champion of body positivity, and being part of the advocacy of the Metro Body 2024 campaign allows her to further push for the cause. “I’m really flattered to be part of the Metro Body campaign again this year. I was also part of the one last year,” the Can’t Buy Me Love actress shared.

While she was pressed for time in terms of having to prepare for the shoot, Kaila was still confident of how it turned out. To her, though, if there’s a chance for extra time, she would exert more strength into shaping up.

“I feel like I would go on a diet to keep me lean and also, do workouts for lengthening and toning. Kasi I feel like it looks nice ’pag medyo toned ’yung katawan for summer shoots or bikini shoots like this. But thankfully, I have been focusing a lot on my health and my gut health. So I’ve been very particular about stuff that I’ve been eating now and I’ve also been very active,” she mused.

Contrary to some who completely focus on their frame, Kaila is more about maintaining her holistic health now. She navigates sports and activities such as boxing and weightlifting, and in between, Pilates and strength training.

“I like to do that because I like sportier workouts, ‘cause I feel like it keeps me excited to work out every day,” Kaila shared in an exclusive interview with Metro.Style. Empowered and poised, Kaila also explained why dieting isn’t exactly her act. “I love food, so unless I have something that I need to prepare for, I don’t really diet.”

“I just try to eat whole food, good food. And then I indulge every once in a while pero hindi rin palagi…But if I have to prepare for something, I would keep myself in a deficit. I do intermittent fasting, and then I try to cut down on my sugar and carbs.”

Then a varsity player of volleyball, Kaila has taken on pastimes that polished her acting and modeling abilities. Part of her practice is striving to be stronger, making herself more agile as what her work as an actress requires. She told Metro.Style, “I like strength training as well. I like lifting weights ’cause I feel like it keeps me strong… It helps when I’m working din. Parang I don’t get so easily tired.”

“I noticed na if I take a break from working out for a long time, mas mabilis akong mapagod. So it’s pretty much just that—being able to move around and being able to work and do my daily activities without burning out so quickly,” Kaila added.

Roped in by habit and the belief that more than the make, what’s inside matters more, Kaila illuminates the road to being her best self—inward or on the surface. She opened up, “I struggled a lot with my body because I feel like there’s a certain standard in society about how your body should look… I feel like I’ve struggled with it pretty much all my life.”

“But then, now that I’m older and a bit wiser and a bit more mature,” Kaila confidently shared. “I’m more focused on feeling good in terms of my health and dieting to keep me healthy instead of to keep me skinny or to keep me on a certain standard.”

Kaila Estrada is #fitnessgoals in the gallery below:

@kailaestrada

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Dix Perez

Creative Direction by Randz Manucom

Editor-in-Chief: Geolette Esguerra

Sittings editors: Red Dimaandal and Grace Libero-Cruz

Fashion Associate: Carla Buyo

Editorial Assistant: Mika Yusay

Makeup by Gelo Dumlao

Hairstyling by Bryan Eusebio

Styling by Josh Galang, Mai Chua, and Carlie Lajara of Mesmyrrhized by Myrrh Lao To

Videography by Florence Chee and Ara Tanagon of Spotlight Creatives Studio

Set design by Janice Consulta, Paul Habal, and Onel Consulta of Tipping Point Collective

Shot on location at Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua

Special thanks to Star Magic, Laurenti Dyogi, Thess Gubi, Frances Joson, Tempus Restaurant, Jonie Dionisio, and Joba Botana

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