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.'

During this early phase in her career, Mercado admitted she tried to hide her roots.

'Iba talaga ang pagsasalita ko noong nage-extra-extra ako dito sa Maynila. Dati kasi kapag ako ay may punto, pinagtatawanan ako. So ako, parang nahiya ako.'

When TikTok became a popular app, Mercado opened an account and began uploading content where she chose to speak in English in her native accent. Soon enough, she happily discovered that embracing her roots would bring her success.

Thus, the 'Reyna Batangueña of the TikTokverse' was born. Her videos, where she would proudly display her Batangueña personality and, more so, bring her strong accent to the internet amassed millions of views and likes.

Her success inspired other Batangueños to showcase their roots on different social media platforms.

'Natutuwa po ako dahil ang mga Batangueño nai-a-angat natin ang ating mga sarili, ang ating probinsya. Masaya ako na mailalabas na nila ang kanilang mga sarili. Kumbaga, di na sila nahihiya na ipakita at iparinig ang aming punto.'

Today, besides creating content for her followers, Mercado has also crossed over to mainstream television by appearing in several shows. On TV she was one of the Singtokers in TV5's videoke game show 'Sing Galing' and became one of the Arkidia Ates of the spinoff, 'Sing Galing Kids.'

And from playing bit roles in the past, Mercado has already bagged leads in a couple of series. She played one of the main stars of the first-ever Filipino TikTok series '52 Weeks.' She also joined the cast of the TV5 sitcom 'Oh My Korona.'

Moreover, her strong social media presence has landed her brand endorsements and deals. The most recent is for Jullien Skin, a beauty rejuvenating set she swears works.

According to Jamira Magcale, president of JDM Corporation, distributor of the new skincare brand, Mercado is a perfect fit for their brand.

'She's bubbly and cute, but most of all, she embodies our brand because she's such a simple girl,' Magcale noted, adding that when looking for their first brand ambassador, they had no one else in mind.

As the latest name in the beauty industry, Jullien Skin hopes to leave a strong first impression through the brand's initial product offering.

The rejuvenating set consists of four products: Kojic cleansing soap; a rejuvenating toner; a hydrating sunscreen for daytime and protection against harsh Philippine climate; and a rejuvenating night cream that repairs skin blemishes like dark spots and pimples.

'Ang laki po ng impact ng skincare sa aking beauty routine,' shared Mercado who added set is exclusively available via Puregold at a very competitive price.

Best of all, it doubled her confidence even more as she faces a career that looks brighter than ever.

'That's why I'm so grateful for being chosen by Jullien Skin. Having skin that feels and looks good on the outside helps me exude the confidence I need,' Mercado ended.