Yassi Pressman on being a good role model
NO doubt an empowered Filipina, Yassi Pressman is an inspiration to a lot of women on and off camera. More than just an admirable actress and performer, Pressman is also a respected entrepreneur who owns Presidential Paws, a pet accessories brand; co-founds Wavee, a personal care line; and invests in Mind You Mental Health Systems, a company that provides accessible and affordable psychological support.
In the sidelines of her media launch as the newest Ginebra San Miguel 2023 Calendar Girl, Pressman shared how important it is for her to become a role model to other people.
“I have my own role models as well, and without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. So if I am in the position like this, with a platform and blessed to have so many people who are following,
I’d rather not only share selfies but also inspirational messages and make them smile or laugh. It’s the little things. Sayang kasi we reach so many people,” she told members of the media.
Pressman has named actress and TV host Anne Curtis as her biggest inspiration in showbiz. Coincidentally, Curtis also became Ginebra San
Miguel’s Calendar Girl in 2011.
“I love Ate Anne so much. She is the person that has a lot of values — aside from talent, aside from beauty — and she’s been here for so long ibig sabihin, patuloy ni yang gina gal inga nat pin ag pu pu rsigi hanan gt rab a ho niya so I really respect people like her.” She also admitted feeling the pressure of following the footsteps of her idols Curtis and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, who was the brand’s 2019 calendar girl. “I wasn’t really prepared physically — that’s number one. I was on vacation tapos kailangan kong bumalik. And then kailangan in two weeks ready ako to be in this calendar with millions of copies. So there was pressure. I know a lot of people who came before me were almost perfect. Pero sabi ko din sa sarili ko, ‘just go and be the healthiest version of yourself. Kung anong kaya mong gawin, go strive for your best because you’re the only competition of yourself, so do your best lang.’”
To prepare for this special project, Pressman mentioned that she has to give up a lot of things including eating carbohydrates-rich food.
“I went through a big fitness journey this year katulad ng mga
ipinakita ko sa mga tao online. It was a lot of discipline for me — mentally, physically. But I feel good, I feel happy, I feel healthy and I hope this also inspire people to also get up. Because ‘yun yung usual na sinasabi nila sa akin, they thank me because I inspire them, so I’m happy if we all grow together.”
Finally, Pressman reiterated that she shows her most natural self online and sometimes even reveals some not-so-glamorous side of a celebrity because she believes it would be healthy for people, especially the youth, to see that genuine side of her.
“I am open to everybody [on social media] about my battles and journey toward being healthier and stronger. Whenever I get messages from little girls or any netizen saying that I inspire them to dance, act, and to keep moving forward, it gives me that good feeling and hope and aspiration to empower more women,” Pressman ended.