Practically overnight, Sofia “Fyang” Smith became one of the most talked-about teenagers in the Philippines, with an avalanche of change that has followed.
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No matter what stage of life you are in, change will always be there, waiting in the background like your favorite actor you see in all the movies but can’t remember their name. But change hits different when you’re young. Whether it be puberty, school, family, a change in setting, or everything in between, there’s nothing like experiencing change in your life when you’re young to get you shook. And it isn’t helped by the fact that since we’re still young and haven’t experienced much in life yet, change, big or small, can feel like the world is turning over.
Varsity jacket by @jireh.ph , Will Jireh Malabay, Top and Skirt by @by__gia , Gianina Jewel Chan, Heels by @sofabph , Sofab!
But while the feeling of trepidation is real, that doesn’t mean we should just run away from it all our lives. We all go through it, and we can only grow if we face it. Just ask Sofia “Fyang” Smith. In 14 weeks, Fyang went from being a social media content creator to one of the most famous 18-year-olds in the country when she won Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11. It’s a win that saw her enter a vaunted Hall Of Fame, but also changed her whole life overnight. So, how’s Fyang been dealing with all that? Pretty well, actually.
THE BIG WINNER AND HER BIG EXPERIENCE
To say that Fyang Smith (and her outspoken personality) was a talked-about presence on PBB Gen 11 is an understatement. Her time on the show was a rollercoaster ride that lit social media up every episode. But four months and seven eviction nominations later, she bagged the W with 30.66% of the vote. It was, and still is, a wild time for Fyang. But as she looks back on her experience on the show, she remembers the lessons that made her a better person. “Lagi ko pong sinasabi na being mindful and considerate about others’ feelings talaga,” she shares.
It’s still early days for the young personality, but so far, she’s not letting the attention get to her petite frame. “Actually po, para lang akong normal na tao,” Fyang admits on how she’s been dealing with the big shift since winning the season. “Hindi ko sinasabi sa sarili ko na parang big na ako. Kasi if mangyari yun, lalaki yung ulo ko. So parang, I’m living the best as a normal person pa rin talaga.”
While Fyang’s name is on everyone’s lips these days, for her, she’s still the Fyang from Mandaluyong. “Hindi ko tinitingnan yung sarili ko the way na tinitingnan nila ako. Parang, ako pa rin naman yung Fyang, ako pa rin yung Sofia ng family ko. Hindi naman ako nagbago.”
With the world at her fingertips, Fyang has a lot of options for her to take as her next move. Like many of her predecessors, a showbiz career is on the table, “Excited ako pong magkateleserye soon and movie. And excited din po akong makipag-collaborate sa mga brands and all.” However, she also admits that she’s not 100% sure what her future could look like, and in this moment, she opens up about a more personal dream she has for herself. “Magiging doktor ako soon. That’s my dream po talaga. Magiging general surgeon soon. Yun yung ipu-pursue ko po.”
CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
How do you deal with change? On the surface, it seems like a simple question. But it’s not the easiest to answer. We all deal with change in our own way, but if you’re struggling to accept change in your life, try seeing it through a different perspective. See it as a moving up of sorts, like you’re moving on to better things in your life.
Change can be scary, but it’s also a sign for better things on the horizon, a new you of sorts. “I think ang moving up sa akin is nababago mo yung mga mali mong nagagawa,” share Fyang. “Parang tanggap mo sa sarili mo na nagkamali ka. Hindi yung papataasin mo pa yung ego mo dahil lang sa isang pagkakamali mo. Moving up for me is tinatanggap yung sariling pagkakamali.”
Naturally, we change throughout our lives because we can’t stay the same forever, especially if we latch on to the more toxic sides of us. As Fyang sees it, change comes best when you drop the ego and realize your faults. “’Pag mali na, pag sobra na, kailangan mo nang baguhin yun. Hindi para makipagmataasan ka pa.” Obviously, not every change that comes is good. So, with that, it requires a discerning mind that knows what’s best for you, and, in Fyang’s case, the right people to let you know if there’s a problem. “I think ‘pag may nakapansin na talaga na mali yung ginagawa mong pagbabago sa sarili mo.”
OKAY CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
To be just 18 years old yet thrust into the spotlight with enough followers across your social media accounts to populate a mid-sized country is a lot for any teenager to handle. Yet, even in all of this, Fyang chooses to prioritize her well-being for the vibes, and honestly, good for her. “I’m just chilling lang talaga. Like, parang wala po. Go with the flow lang po ako. Ayoko po nung parang pinapansin ng iba.”
She’s taking her new journey one step at a time, and she wants other young people who may feel scared or stressed about going through big changes in their lives to not let the words of others get them down. “Don’t be scared of hearing what other people say about you,” Fyang advises. “If meron silang gustong sabihin sa’yo, or kahit masama, just take it as an advice. Don’t take it too personally.”
So, with the three lifetimes Fyang lowkey has lived through in the past year, what does she has to say to her pre-PBB self? “Diyan ka na lang. Magulo dito. Super magulo dito sa future.” It’s an honest confession, but one rooted in enjoying her childhood before her life turned upside down. She continues. “If I were you, mag-enjoy ka na lang diyan habang bata ka pa. Gusto kong ma-enjoy niya muna yung childhood niya. Huwag mong isipin yung sinasabing masama sa’yo.”
What Fyang has gone through is an experience most teenagers will never live through. But the PBB winner’s story arc speaks to how change finds us no matter where we are in our lives, and can often feel like being hit by a truck in your youth. Yet, we can only grow if we learn and change for the better. As Fyang puts it, “Change is important. Sobrang importante ng change. Lalo na if mali na talaga yung ginagawa mo.”
She speaks from experience, especially with how her life story was played out and dissected in front of the nation. “Ako kasi po before, parang sa akin, hindi importante yung magbago sa akin talaga. Kasi parang, tanggap ko sa sarili ko, madami nagmamahal sa akin the way na ganito po ako. So parang huli ko na narealize na importante pala talaga magbago sa sarili mo. Kasi, hindi lahat ma-appreciate ka. Hindi lahat maintindihan yung ugaling meron ka.” She adds, “So, change is very important for me. Lalo na ngayon, nagkaroon po ako ng little character development.”
At the end of the day, change shouldn’t be seen as an omen for bad things, but a sign that something better for you is coming. It’s natural, expected, and, most importantly, necessary, so we can become the best version of ourselves. If this 18-year-old content creator turned Gen Z big winner can get her character development moment, so can you, bestie.
Photography by JOSH TOLENTINO
Assistant by ANTONIO VASQUEZ
Creative and Fashion Direction by ANDRE JUDD CHANG
Art Direction by GELO QUIJENCIO
Styling by ANDRE JUDD CHANG
Assisted by KURT ABONAL
Production Design by ARJ MADZ of JAGGER STUDIOS
Makeup by MAKEUP BY BOOYA and JAPETH PUROG
Hair by PAU ONDRADA and ELLISE TAGAAMO
Nails by LUZ FORTUNO and NICA RAGASA of TRIPLE LUCK BROW & NAIL SALON
Shoot Coordination by JASMIN DASIGAN
Managing Editor RAFAEL BAUTISTA
Brand Associate BIANCA LAO
Special thanks to STAR MAGIC
Get your copy of the Moving Up print pack featuring Fyang and Jas now HERE.
