SB19, with members Stell, Pablo, Justin, Ken, and Josh, may be the leading P-Pop group, but they haven't been spared from criticism.
Ever since their debut, they've faced negative comments about their appearance.
Even after making efforts towards personal growth and enhancing their looks, the boys still encounter considerable backlash for their appearance.
Read: SB19 recalls being bashed for their looks: "Sobrang daming pangungutya..."
Stell, in particular, has been the target of name-calling and criticism, with some netizens speculating that he had a nose job as part of his glow-up.
Stell addressed this during his guesting in the weekend magazine show, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, that aired last Sunday, June 16, 2024, on GMA-7.
During the interview, the show's host Jessica Soho went straight to the point and asked the singer, "Pasensya na, Stell ha... pinaayos daw yung ilong mo?"
And just as candidly, Stell in his reply reaffirmed his group's stance on personal growth through cosmetic enhancements.
He said, "Well, this time, sa panahon po ngayon, wala naman po kasing masama when it comes to enhancing yourself. Hashtag self-love.
"Kung dun ka magiging masaya, dun ka magiging confident, ano naman?
"Tsaka ang mahalaga, kung may budget ka, ipagawa mo na."
Read: Stell Ajero “still shocked” by impromptu performance
STELL AJERO ON SELF-CARE
In a previous interview with PEP.ph, Stell opened up about feeling insecure about self-care practices when he was starting out.
He shared, "Kasi before, parang, na-experience ko ito, parang gusto ko i-improve yung sarili ko.
"Pero nandun yung maliit na bagay na iniisip mo na baka ma-judge ako, parang ganun.
"Like yung, kahit yung simple step o yung first step na magpunta sa derma para magpapa-facial, parang dati natatakot ako.
"Kasi baka mamaya ma-judge ako so sasabihin, 'Bakit ka nagpapaganyan, e, mahal niyan? Kaya ba ng budget mo? Kaya mo bang i-maintain yung ganyan?'
"So dati pa lang, iniisip ko iyan... parang hindi ko kaya.
"So yung gusto kong gawing first step for myself, hindi ko masimulan dahil sa mga iniisip ko at dahil sa iniisip kong sasabihin ng ibang tao sa akin."
Recalling his past anxiety over cosmetic enhancement, Stell made a remark about the current generation's positive attitude towards self-improvement.
He told PEP.ph, "Kasi alam mo yun, hindi lang sa willing sila na mag-step up and i-improve yung sarili nila.
"Also willing din sila para i-educate yung mga tao. And yung i-educate and parang tulungan yung ibang tao na may concern din sa sarili nila.
"Na parang you should visit your derma para malaman niyo kung ano yung kailangan niyo sa skin niyo, para ma-guide kayo kung ano dapat niyo gawin para sa sarili niyo, ma-improve yung anything.
"Tapos, starting from that small step, kahit may konting improvement, improvement pa rin siya na nakaka-proud.
"Kasi before, hindi ko siya magawa for myself. Pero ngayon, knowing na may mga tao and big company na talaga sinusuportahan kami, parang sabi ko, ang saya sa pakiramdam.
"Kasi yung step na gusto kong gawin before, nagiging possible na siya ngayon."
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