“Nakaka-insecure”: Ciara Sotto, binalikan ang kanyang experience sa showbiz noon

• Actress and singer Ciara Sotto opened up during an interview with Bernadette Sembrano about the emotional hurdles she faced when she entered showbiz at 16 years old
• Ciara shared that being born into the prominent Sotto and Gamboa clans made it difficult
• She admitted feeling insecure when constantly compared to her mother's beauty
• Ciara also recalled feeling hurt as a teenager when an interviewer asked her a blunt question

Ciara Sotto spoke candidly about how tough it was trying to carve out her own identity as a teen in the industry.

Sitting down with broadcast journalist Bernadette Sembrano for a heart-to-heart conversation on Side B, Ciara looked back on the early struggles she dealt with when she first stepped into the spotlight around age 16.

When asked about the biggest hurdles she encountered in showbiz, Ciara admitted that constant comparisons took a toll on her confidence:

"Ang hirap kasi i-cocompare ka. I-compare ka sa mommy mo na super ganda na maputi. Kasi ako hindi talaga ako maputi, pinanganak talaga akong morena."

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While emphasizing how proud and grateful she is to belong to the Sotto and Gamboa families, Ciara explained how frustrating it felt when people overlooked her hard work and abilities:

"Well, of course I'm grateful and sobrang thankful ako, it's an honor na maging isang Gamboa and Sotto. Pero hindi mo talaga siya maano, na anak lang, parang hindi ka makilala sa talent mo. Anak kasi, anak ka kasi ni ano kaya ka kilala, ganun. And it was kind of like... nakaka-insecure. Totoo, nakaka-insecure. So yun, siguro yun yung part na nahirapan ako."

One memory that stayed with Ciara from her teenage years was a harsh interview question comparing her to her cousin, Megastar Sharon Cuneta:

"I remember there was a time na ininterview ako, sabi, 'Anong masasabi mo na poor copy ka ng Ate Sharon mo?' Tapos talagang parang, I was just like smiling pero, sabi ko, 'Oh my gosh, anong sasagot ko dito?'"

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Caught off guard at around 16 or 17 years old, Ciara recalled trying her best to respond gracefully while clarifying that she never attempted to imitate her beloved cousin.

Reflecting on how that moment affected her back then, Ciara admitted the remark stung deeply at a time when she was still figuring out who she was as a young artist.

"Parang hindi rin talaga ako nakasagot ng clear. Pero yun yung mga tanong na napupunta sa akin. So nakaka-hurt siya as nako 17 lang ata ako noon or 16 ganyan. And I was still trying to discover kung sino ako nung time na yun."

Ciara Sotto is a Filipino actress, singer, and television personality who comes from one of the country's well-known showbiz clans. She is the daughter of actor-television host and Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III and Helen Gamboa. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in entertainment, Ciara entered showbiz at a young age. She gained further recognition through her appearances on the long-running noontime variety show Eat Bulaga! Beyond performing, Ciara has ventured into music, recording albums and performing live. In her personal life, she was previously married to Jojo Oconer, with whom she has a son named Crixus. In recent years, Ciara has balanced her engagements with motherhood and has remained active on social media.

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As previously reported by KAMI, Ciara Sotto marked her 46th birthday with a powerful, reflective post on social media. She shared some new, jaw-dropping pictures captured by @rapyuphotos. ​Ciara reminded her followers that her personal and physical strength did not develop overnight but through discipline. ​She expressed deep gratitude to faith, family, and loved ones who have continuously supported her.

Meanwhile, in 2025, Ciara Sotto revealed the emotional reason she cried at Vito Sotto and Michelle Cobb's wedding. According to Ciara, it was a full-circle moment that involved her son, Crixus When her son had walked down the aisle as the Bible bearer, Ciara was stunned. She was deeply moved that Vito had kept the sentimental gift she gave him before over the years which also touched her fans online.

Source: KAMI.com.gh