Original content appeared on: ThePulse.ph 

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Nadine Lustre is surely a name you have heard of. How she made her name in show business is a testament of her hard work and persistence. Nadine is proof that behind the luster of her name, she is one girl who started small but still keeps things real despite her remarkable, hard-won success.“She’s really, really good. Sobrang energetic niyang bata. Parang lahat ng bagay alam niya. Marunong siyang sumayaw, umarte and kumanta.”This is how Nadine’s strongest ally, her aunt Nona Clemente, who saw her niece blossom from a baby to the big star she is now, describes Nadine. Nadine’s love affair showbiz would start way before she got enamored with the limelight.Her aunt recounts, “Si Nadine noong bata pa, sobrang kulit. Puro lalakeng mga pinsan ang kasama. Kahit pagbawalan mo, aakyat ‘yan at sasabit sa gate. Kahit pababain mo, hindi siya bababa. Akala namin magiging tomboy siya. Kasi she’s very tomboyish. ‘Yung mga laruan niya before hindi naman mga manika. Baril-barilan ang gusto niya.”Nadine would be the naughty but adorable tot that would raise hell but melt hearts instantly with her smile as evidenced by this recollection of her aunt: “Napakakulit talaga niya, pero ang ganda-ganda. So kahit nakukulitan kaming lahat sa kanya, magpa-cute lang ng konti, okay na.” Nona would pepper her anecdote of Nadine with a laugh that bears the fondness she has for her niece. “Tapos mangungulit ulit, gusto mo na namang kurutin.”

STARTING OUT

Nadine would parlay her natural charm into a showbiz career that started with a series of forgettable bit roles, some tepidly-received commercials, and even a girl group that never really took off. All throughout those years, — well before an unexpected role would prove to be her big break — Nadine kept her enthusiasm and grit.“Noong bata pa si Nadine, bitbit siya lagi ng mom niya sa mga advertising agencies para mag-VTR. Consistent ‘yun. Tapos kapag kailangan ng bata, kukunin siya.Marami na siyang nagawa na commercials before. Tapos, gumanap na rin siya before sa Maalaala Mo Kaya na anak ni Vilma Santos noong maliit pa siya.”Things got to a point where despite a budding career, Nadine’s family would sense her waning interest in her chosen profession. Tita Nona reminisces, “Noong ginagawa na ‘yung sa TV 5 na P.S. I Love You and Bagets: Just Got Lucky, napaka-tuod umarte kasi wala na siyang gana at interes. So sinabi namin sa kanya, ‘kung gusto mo mag-artista, galingan mo.’ Kasi nga hindi na niya pwedeng itapon ‘yung nasimulan niya. Nung nag-Pop Girls siya, nagkaroon naman siya ng sarili niyang following na solo. Nagkaroon ng Naddicts tsaka Bangsies, so nakakahiya kung hindi niya ituloy kasi these people were really banking on her. They were very supportive at hindi talaga siya binitawan from the start.”

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