Melissa Mendez captured attention on January 22, 2025, with a raw and real Instagram post celebrating body positivity.
Clad in a polka-dotted fuchsia bra and lilac biker shorts, the actress confidently showcased her abdomen, adorned with stretch marks and loose skin—a body she wholeheartedly embraces as her own.
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Now 60 years old, Melissa paired the image with a heartfelt caption which began with a declaration: "My body. Reality. Unfiltered."
She went on to describe her body’s journey, acknowledging the decades of stories and milestones it went through.
"My body has gone through a lot. It gave birth to three beautiful children who are now adults. It has weathered time as it grew older at 60. It has undergone menopause," she wrote.
The Kalkal star further detailed her weight-loss journey, which left her with loose and wrinkled skin.
While some might see these changes as flaws, Melissa reframed them as signs of resilience, stating, "My body isn't complaining or grumbling. In fact, my body is proud for what it is, having survived it all."
Her closing statement, "It's happy just the way it is," captured her message of self-love and body positivity.
Messages of praise and cheers flooded her post, with netizens lauding her authenticity.
One comment read:
"Good for her. She's being real. Not many can be happy for fear of being criticized. She's had her struggles like all of us. But she endured. She's okay and that's what counts. It is these testimonials that gives other woman a reason to believe in oneself no matter the journey. For we all grow old. Childbearing weight gain menopause are part of the struggles woman face. Why not celebrate the positive rather than the negatives. The most important thing is being happy in your own skin. God Bless her.."
Melissa battles depression due to weight gain
Melissa's inspiring statement came after years of personal struggles and triumphs.
During the February 2020 press conference for Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan, a film starring Joshua Garcia and directed by Chito S. Roño, she revealed her bouts with depression due to significant weight gain, which took a toll on both her confidence and career.
A year later, Melissa recounted her weight-loss journey.
The turning point came when she could no longer recognize herself in the mirror.
Melissa told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in March 2023:
“Every time I see myself in the mirror I didn’t like what I saw. Nahihiya akong lumabas at nawalan ako ng self-confidence.
“Nagkaroon din ako ng depression dahil wala nang kumukuha sa akin sa trabaho."
Read: PEP EXCLUSIVE. Melissa Mendez wishes Andrew Wolff and Rey Pamaran “the best of everything”
Melissa Mendez before and after
Hence, she became firmly committed to achieving her target weight.
"Thirty pounds ang na-lose ko dahil sa OMAD o One Meal A Day diet na sinabayan ko ng Zumba, every day in the morning.
"May sponsor ako ng food, ang Daily Gourmet delivery. I eat lunch lang. Kapag nagugutom ako, I drink lots of water.
“After losing 30 pounds, bumalik ang self-confidence ko at maraming tao ang na-inspire sa health and fitness journey ko.
“If I can do it so they can too. Push lang nila," she encouraged.
At the time, she needed to shed 10 more pounds before making her comeback to acting and exploring new opportunities in television and film.
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