Andrea Brillantes is no stranger to harsh criticism. While she's not immune to moments of insecurity, the 19-year-old has already learned that there's simply no point in obsessing over what people think of her. Having been in the industry for more than a decade now, the Gen Z star is an expert in responding to hateful comments with wit and grace. And TBH, we just love to see it! Ahead, check out seven of her most memorable clapbacks to date:
1. Andrea experienced her first-ever bullying incident when she was only a child actress. In an old interview from 2016, she recounted that some of her classmates refused to play with her simply because she had curly hair. The child actress cried about the incident for a while but soon realized that she just needed to embrace her insecurities. "Gusto kong maging normal tulad nila, wina-wax ko pa âyung hair ko. Pero wala, i-accept mo nalang kung sino ka, diba? Kasi at least ikaw buhay ka pa," she said. Wow, she's definitely wise beyond her years!
2. In one of her YouTube vlogs last year, Andrea didn't hesitate to shut down a netizen who insisted that she was a "retokada". To no one's surprise, she had the smartest response: "Hindi po ako retokada, pero thanks for thinking that. Ibig sabihin may maganda sa mukha ko para maisip niyo na retokada ako."
3. Remember that time Andrea unashamedly rapped "Stupid Love" after a basher insulted her rapping skills? Yup, it's still iconic six years later!
4. Although Andrea wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth, many haters still jump to the conclusion that she's nothing but a spoiled and fussy artista. In fact, she's encountered this assumption so many times before that she can simply just brush it off. "Thank you for calling me rich. That was the goal," she once said to a basher who called her maarte.
5. When Andrea celebrated her boyfriend's latest birthday with a beach clean-up at Siargao, some netizens accused her of being "fake". Andrea addressed the issue a few weeks later, explaining that she will get bashed even for doing the kindest things. "Kahit na anong gawin ko, wala talaga talaga sa kakayanan ko na mabago yung paningin ng mga tao kung 'yun [ang] piliin nilang tingnan," she said. We love an unbothered queen!
6. Sometimes, laughing at yourself is the least toxic way to infuriate those who criticize you. Case in point: Andrea poked fun at the viral "sinabawang hotdog" blunder that netizens mocked her for last April.
7. When Andrea was only 15 years old, she got slut-shamed for unintentionally having her bra visible in a now-deleted photo. She stood her ground in a lengthy post and pointed out that netizens were basically sexualizing a minor for wearing a completely normal undergarment. You tell them, Andrea!
*This story originally appeared on Candymag.com. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
