On the surface, Queenay Mercado looks like she's always been the extroverted and cheerful young lady netizens immediately come to like. But the TikTok superstar — who has more than 13 million followers on the platform alone — admits her journey to make an impact hasn't been easy.
"Na-experience ko rin yung insecurity. Dati sobrang mahiyain ko, di ko kayang humarap sa maraming tao. At kung may katabi ako, tipong hahayaan ko siyang unang kumausap sa akin," Mercado said, in the full Batangueño accent her followers adore.
Going through puberty and the surging hormones that led to bad breakouts further deterred her from coming out of her shell.
"Dati nai-insecure ako pag tinatagyawat ako at di ako lumalabas ng bahay, nahihiya ako. Wala akong nilalagay sa mukha, di ako marunong mag makeup," the 21-year-old recalled.
What allowed her to overcome her insecurity were the workshops her mother prodded her to take. Not only did these give her the confidence she lacked, but the workshops also provided her with a foundation when she developed an interest in show business.
The young hopeful would often board buses from Batangas to Manila to try her luck. She played extras in numerous television shows and would be grateful even with a few seconds of fame.
Behind the camera, however, she was treated differently from other talents because of her looks and background.
"Napansin ko na meron talagang favoritism — kung sino yung makinis, kung sino yung maputi dati, yun ang laging napapansin. Minsan mago-audition ako, kumbaga gagawin ko ang lahat aaralin ko ang mga linya pero di ako nakukuha dahil ang kailangan ay maputi."