After 20 years, Iza Calzado returns to the cover of Cosmopolitan Philippines for their March 2024 digital issue. The milestone couldn't be more serendipitous for the celebrity mom, who attests that it is indeed a "massive thing" for her.
In the two decades she's had in the limelight, Iza has been through her fair share of body image struggles. In an exclusive interview with Preview, she talks about the challenges she's faced and how she overcame them to become the woman she is today.
Iza Calzado On Her Struggles with Body Image and Fashion
Iza, who was also honored as "The Inspiring Voice" at Cosmo's Women of Influence event, admits that she wasn't so fond of fashion growing up. "I was a big girl. Clothes were just clothes for me," she expounds. "I didn't even fit into women's clothing that I could buy in stores. I was wearing men's clothing. So, it wasn't something that inspired anything for me."
Back then, she says that there weren't really any brands that catered to plus-size girls. For a party during her junior year of high school, she resorted to having a dress custom-made just so she could have something to wear. "Kasi nga I didn't grow up dressing myself up or trying on different clothing, hindi ako sanay. I just never got to practice."
When she entered show business, she found a confidante in her stylist Kat Cruz, who taught her the ropes when it came to fashion. The actress likens Kat to a motherly figure she can ring up whenever she needs sartorial advice.
"I'm still pretty much the same human being, but I guess, I've evolved, and so has my style," Iza says. "I think I've gotten to know my body a lot more. I was experimenting a lot in my 20s. Marami akong mga katakot-takot na choices na dapat hindi nalang pag-usapan," she quips.
For Cosmo's event last March 21, Iza demonstrated just how much she's matured when it comes to her personal style. She narrates to Preview that, due to a miscommunication, she had to put together a last-minute look that still adhered to the sparkly dress code. She rang up Kat for help, found something in her closet, applied some slight alterations, and was out of the door in time for the dinner.
A style hiccup would've fazed a younger Iza, but now, she's learned well enough not to dwell on things like this. "The fact is, I showed up. And that's what matters in life."
She continues, expressing, "It doesn't matter what brand you're wearing. It doesn't matter how much your shoes cost or how many times you've used your outfit. What matters is that you show up."
And you showed up as beautifully as ever, Iza. Congratulations on the awards and the cover!
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