Gen-Z Magazine Features-Andrea Brillantes-Em.baun

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More Than Just a Pretty Face: The Rise of Andrea Brillantes

February 17, 2025 @genzmagph

They say a girl can dream—but it takes a woman of courage, resilience, and vision to wake up, take action, and rewrite the narrative that society has written for her. It takes guts to break free from expectations, carve her own path, and become the woman her younger self would be so proud of.

Andrea Brillantes is that woman.

A household name since childhood, Andrea has spent years under the spotlight. But beyond the magazine covers, the viral moments, and the glitz of showbiz, she has proven that she is so much more than just a pretty face. She’s a Gen Z powerhouse—an actress who delivers iconic characters, an entrepreneur with big dreams, and a young woman who’s navigating self-love and healing while thriving in an industry that often demands perfection.

Genzmag-Spotlight-Andrea-Brillantes-ShotbyEm — _{Color-Block Piece Dress, Nicca Pagaduan | Heels, Giuseppe Zanotti | Photo by Em Baun}

More Than Just Acting

Andrea practically grew up on-screen, playing iconic roles in Annaliza, Kadenang Ginto, and Senior High. But before all the fame, she was just a three-year-old girl dreaming of becoming an actress.

“Kasi bunso ako noon, everyone had their own lives. Naiiwan ako sa harap ng TV. Gumagawa ako ng sarili kong eksena. Mag-aacting lang ako,” Andrea shares. Like many young girls, she looked up to characters like Sharpay Evans from High School Musical and Ariel from The Little Mermaid, inspired by their confidence and drama. She even dreamed of being a singer—until her siblings teased her about being out of tune. So, she poured everything into acting instead.

But what most people don’t know? Andrea was painfully shy as a kid. When her mom first took her to auditions, she barely spoke. Not much happened at first—until life pushed her to step out of her comfort zone. Her turning point? Her brother’s accident.

To help her family, she entered beauty pageants and slowly gained the confidence to try acting again.

“I think mas maaga akong nag-mature. Mas maaga akong nagkaroon ng responsibilities. I had to give up my childhood.”

While some might think that acting came easily to her, Andrea makes it clear—it wasn’t handed to her on a silver platter. She had to fight to stay in the industry. She even had to pause her studies during Kadenang Ginto just to keep up with her career. “Hindi kasi ako pwedeng mawala-wala e. Nabigyan ako ng opportunity. Kailangan ko siyang i-grab.”

More Than Just a Career

Starting in Goin’ Bulilit and landing leading roles early in life gave Andrea an edge in her craft. But fame? It’s a double-edged sword—one that came with pros and lots of cons. However, while there were many things that she had to give up and sacrifice, she remains grateful for all the opportunities given to her. “Kahit mahirap, kapag bread winner ka, kahit hindi mo na kaya, kailangan mo talagang kayanin. Pipilitin mo talagang lumaban at saka bumangon. Pipilitin mong pumasok sa trabaho mo. Nandoon ‘yong biggest motivation ko maliban sa gusto ko ‘to ever since.”

She knows how unpredictable showbiz can be. Careers rise and fall overnight, and she refuses to take anything for granted. “Fame kasi, mabilisan mawala. It comes and goes. So, kailangang mag-ipon habang nandito pa ako.”

More Than Healing the Inner Child

Growing up in the limelight meant Andrea missed out on a lot of childhood experiences. Subconsciously, she says, this shows up in small ways—like the way she talks. Her baby voice has often been ridiculed online, but she explains that it’s not about trying to be cute. “Akala nilang lahat nagpapa-cute ako kaya nililiit ko ‘yong voice ko. I don’t need to do that. Cute na ako,” she laughs. “It comes kapag super excited ako sa isang bagay. Or kaya kapag nakakakita ako ng person who I can trust.”

Like many, she has also been healing her inner child in other ways, like treating herself to things she couldn’t have growing up. Raised in a humble home, Andrea once dreamed of owning all things pink and sparkly. Now? She buys the things she once longed for, from plushies to chocolates to little luxuries, without checking the price. “Therapy session pala ‘to. Ngayon ko lang na-realize.”

But don’t mistake this for immaturity. As the CEO of her own business, Andrea knows when to switch to boss mode. “As long as you’re responsible and considerate, okay naman magbagets-bagets ka,” she shares.

“Tatanda at tatanda tayo. So, habang mayroon pa tayong fun side, let’s remain being fun and being cute.”

More Than the Iconic Roles

Guess we can all agree how Andrea’s role as Marga in Kadenang Ginto cemented her status as a star. But the truth? She almost didn’t take the role. “At first skeptical ako kasi galing ako sa inaapi-api na bida,” she admits. “Tapos biglang in-offer sa akin, kontrabida pero bida naman pero kontrabida ka.”

But after a dry spell in her career, she knew she couldn’t afford to be picky. “Medyo nilalangaw ako, parang ganun. So, I prayed, ‘Bigyan mo lang ako ng opportunity, and I’ll give my very, very best. Just give me a chance. Just bless me with an opportunity, please,” she humbly recalls.

So, when Marga came along, she grabbed the chance—and owned it. Ate and left no crumbs. Andrea gave so much life to the character that people still call her Marga to this day. But she insists she’s nothing like her on-screen persona. “Kilala ko ‘yong heart niya. So, naging natural lang sa akin ‘yong movement niya. And I’m so happy sa pagiging maldita niya kasi nakita pa rin ng tao ‘yong puso ni Marga—kung bakit siya naging maldita.”

Despite her initial hesitation in taking on the role of Marga, Andrea walked away with valuable life lessons. “Ang pinakanatutunan ko sa kanya is madali talaga maging mabait,” she admitted. Playing an angry, envious character day in and day out wasn’t just emotionally draining—it also took a physical toll on her. “Araw-araw ako may headache nung si Marga ako kasi lagi akong galit, lagi akong nang-aaway. Dala-dala ko ang anger at bitterness niya,” she shared with a laugh.

“Hindi talaga nakaka-pretty ang pagiging bitter.”

More Than a Businesswoman

Long before Andrea became an actress, she was already obsessed with makeup. She’d steal her sister’s lipsticks and makeup kit and dream of having her own beauty brand one day.

When Kylie Jenner launched Kylie Cosmetics, young Andrea was very much inspired, making her ask about the possibility of leading her own beauty line as well. “Naisip ko, ‘Kung kaya niya, kaya ko din siguro.’ Super na-inspire talaga ako kay Kylie. Kasi, idol ko siya. Sixteen pa lang siya, fan na niya ako sa lahat ng business ventures niya. So, sabi ko balang araw…”

Then the pandemic happened. Like how many of us crumbled through such a difficult time, it also made her realize how unpredictable showbiz is. And instead of waiting for the “right” time to start a business, she decided to just go for it. “Bakit kailangan ko pa hintayin ‘yon? What if wala na ako bukas? Hindi natin alam.”

She started looking for business partners and capitalized on what she knew best: to entertain and sell her skills. With her showbiz background and passion for beauty, she made her dream a reality.

More Than ‘Andrea Brillantes’

While Andrea is one of Gen Z’s biggest stars, she doesn’t let social media consume her. She even uses an app blocker to limit her time online. “Hindi lang ako artista, mayroon akong sariling life,” she says. “Mayroon akong friends. May sports ako na hindi alam ng mga tao. Mayroon akong buhay na hindi alam ng mga tao na kini-keep ko private.”

Practically growing up online, Andrea understands the power—and the pitfalls—of social media. While she values the connection it allows her to have with her fans, she has also learned the importance of setting boundaries.

Being a fangirl herself, she knows how much a simple interaction with an idol can mean, which is why she makes time to read comments, look into tagged posts, and engage with her supporters. However, she also knows when to step back. While she loves reading fan messages, the moment negativity takes over, she logs off.

For Andrea, social media is a tool, not a lifeline. “Kahit ito ‘yong bread and butter ko, hindi ko siya ginagawang mundo ko. Hindi naman kasi kung saan tayo kumikita, doon din umiikot ‘yong mundo natin.” She actively protects her mental well-being by limiting her screen time. “Nakakaadik talaga ang socmed. Ayoko. Kaya mayroon talaga akong AppBlock. Strict ako doon. Ganoon ko inaalagaan ang mental health ko.”

Despite her jam-packed schedule as an actress, businesswoman, and endorser, Andrea makes sure to carve out time for herself. She finds peace in nature, making it a habit to go on hikes whenever she can. Sundays are reserved for church—unless work calls for her attention.

And while she may not be into running, she has found joy in movement through ballet, frisbee, and football. More recently, she has developed a love for solo traveling, enjoying the freedom of exploring new places on her own.

“I have a normal life behind the chaos. Hindi ako nalulunod sa chaos kasi meron akong kinakapitan— my identity. And that makes me whole.”

Indeed, Andrea Brillantes is more than the characters she plays, the makeup empire she’s building, or the millions of followers who look up to her. She is a woman who refuses to be boxed in by society’s expectations. She is learning, evolving, and embracing every part of herself—flaws, strengths, and everything in between.