Shanaia Gomez: Star-in-training
At 15 years old, Shanaia Gomez’s greatest fear is having regrets.
Now an up-and-coming GMA Artist Center talent, this half-Cebuana was discovered through a Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation (PCCF) pageant in a GMA Pinoy Fiesta event that celebrates the Filipino community in Canada.
Shanaia was hailed Miss Philippines Canada 2016 first-runner up and has been training under GMA since, appearing in various commercials, the latest being a Maggi Sinigang ad with Ian Veneracion. After the TVC, she named her puppy “Maggi” with a “Maggi Sinigangi” nickname.
“I thought at the time that pageants weren’t my thing. I don’t think I could be prim. It was my mom who encouraged me to do it and in the end I’m thankful that I had that opportunity,” Shanaia says.
Although she might join other pageants, Shanaia’s focus is on preparing herself for a showbiz career.
Born in Ireland, Shanaia, her mom, and sister moved to Canada after a few years. Her mom, who hails from Talisay City, started a performing arts school in Canada.
Shanaia is free-spirited and can talk for days on end. She’s well aware of how crazy she can get and is unapologetic about it. If anything, her bright disposition and honest reactions make her all the more relatable.
The young lady began singing at four years old, but it wasn’t until she was 12 that she realized she could elevate that hobby into something more. Lover of all things Disney and Marvel, Shanaia is a sucker for performing, and was even part of a group that performed in concerts and shows in Canada.
“It’s really overwhelming when people at school would tell me how they’re inspired by what I’m doing now,” Shanaia says.
Even before signing with a major network, Shanaia would encourage others to see where performing can take them. “They would say that they’re not going to make it anywhere, or that they really didn’t have much talent. But I disagree. I’m really happy when I’m on stage, and I want them to find and experience that too.”
Shanaia’s inspiration is her family. Now based in the Philippines, she doesn’t get to see them much, but doesn’t worry since she texts them all the time and speaks to them online.
“I do get a bit homesick but it’s alright. I miss my family and my friends but I’m doing this for them. My mom and my sister are everything. I try to go home every six months. As long as you know something good is going to come out of it, it’s okay,” quips Shanaia, who’s gained new friends under the GMA label.
You only need two words to get Shanaia’s attention: Criminal investigation. She’s obsessed with reading mystery thrillers and watching documentaries and television series like “CSI.”
Another thing that gets Shanaia excited: Selena Gomez.
“I want to be like her. She’s one of my biggest inspirations,” Shanaia gushes.
Although adventurous in her musical genres, Shanaia’s influences include the soulful and impassioned Adele, and Demi Lovato’s realness among many other artists. For now, Shanaia is busy preparing song covers. As for original content, Shanaia is still learning to write her own songs, and acknowledges that she needs to get out in the open and live to have the currency to write better.
Shanaia admits she has a lot of catching up to do, and has a lot of training to go through before officially breaking out in the entertainment industry. If anything, she’s totally enjoying her time in boot camp.
“I just try to be fully prepared. I don’t like being half-ready. I just have to take things one step at a time,” Shanaia muses.
“Acting is great because you have to have a connection with your coactors or else it shows that it’s fake. I’ve learned a lot during the workshops, and they even let us do crazy things like pretend to be other things aside from people.”
As Pinoy showbiz rides on love teams, we asked her if she was willing to be in one. “It would be great, but I think right now I want to set my roots first and build myself. I want to be known first as someone independent and not just the other half of a love team. I want to start as someone separate from another thing and just be myself.”
Despite breaking ground on her dreams, Shanaia is still a teen after all—she’s indecisive, excited, and needs her phone. She knows there is a lot to learn from those who came before her, and understands that there are big decisions to make, responsibilities to meet, appointments to see through, and flights to catch.
But despite that, she can’t help but go on adventures, and explore and just do it, whatever “it” was—even surprising those closest to her, and learning as she goes, even as we spoke.
A certified caramel and dog lover, and slowly getting into makeup, Shanaia is competitive, charming, and confident.
If there was one other thing that Shanaia is extremely good at, it is being true to herself, something that young girls should keep in touch with. Shanaia isn’t afraid to do wacky poses, and while outspoken, also listens well.
“What do I want to be remembered as?” Shanaia repeats the question as she ponders a reply.
“I just want to be known as someone inspirational, someone who stayed true to herself. I want to be known as someone who didn’t pretend to be perfect.”