Gen Z actress Julia Barretto has been named the face of liquor brand Tanduay for its highly-anticipated 2024 calendar. When asked during the launch event if she was afraid to be labeled a sex symbol because of her seductive poses, she remarked: " Not at all. I'll take it as a compliment, at the end of the day."

"I don't think it bothers me so much. As you grow older, you just end up being more confident in who you are, and in your own skin. If that translates to being able to inspire people to be brave, to be confident, and to come out of their shells, I'll take it as a compliment," she noted.

The Viva artist said posing for liquor brand had the approval of her boyfriend, Gerald Anderson, who she called "my partner."

"In everything that I do, especially with projects that require a little bit more skin. I really like to sit down and discuss that with my family and loved ones," Julia stated.

"One of the things that I really love about my support system is that they're so supportive in anything that I wanna do when I want to explore and I wanna challenge myself, and I want to push and push myself."

"I'm so grateful that I have such a supportive family, I have a supportive partner, I have supportive friends, and they're the reasons why I'm confident, that I'm brave and I'm secure," she added.

Julia joins the league of past celebrity Tanduay calendar girls, which includes KC Concepcion, Ellen Adarna, Jessy Mendiola, Barbie Imperial, Ivana Alawi, Bela Padilla, Erich Gonzales, and Kylie Verzosa, among others

"It's an honor to be chosen to represent the brand for 2024. Excited but nervous because it means having to be a lot braver in expressing myself, and more than anything else, I'm very grateful. To be the face of it, malaki siyang karangalan sa ‘kin and I hope that I made them (brand) proud. I hope that the team and my new family are proud of the new calendar, " Julia enthused.

The calendar shows Julia in seductive poses, wearing lingerie and activewear. Followers breathed a sigh of relief that it was all done in good taste. 

"You know what, isa sa mga bagay na thankful ako sa Tanduay and the creative team was that it was a very collaborative process. My input was important to them. Pero siyempre, sa mga ganitong klaseng photoshoot, importante rin na very much involved iyong team mo.The team is also dapat iyong tina-trust mo. But more than anything, I'm really grateful kasi that they really valued our thoughts na pri-nesent.Napakadali ng proseso dahil in-involve nila ako sa process," she pointed out.

(One of the things I'm thankful for to Tanduay and the creative team was that it was a very collaborative process. Of course, in this kind of photoshoot, it's very important that your team is very much involved and they're the ones you trust. I'm really grateful that they valued the thoughts we presented. The process became so easy because they involved me in it.)

Julia revealed that they did the Tanduay project while she was also in Baguio shooting her movie with Aga Muhlach entitled "Forgetting Canseco."

"Actually, medyo challenging iyong naging proseso because right before we did the shoot, I was locked in in Baguio shooting a movie , that was back in July.So challenging iyong pagsabayin ko iyong nagsho-shooting ako pero pag-uwi ko ng hotel, sumisingit ako noong mga konting crunches, konting exercise.But again, with the right team and the right people naalagaan talaga ako nang maayos," she narrated.

(The whole process was a bit challenging because right before we did the shoot, I was locked in in Baguio shooting a movie , that was back in July. It was challenging to shoot a movie, and when I went back to my hotel, I did crunches and a bit of exercise. But again, with the right team and people, I was really taken good care of.)

She underscored the importance of being physically fit, especially for someone who juggles a modeling career: "You don't get ready when you have something to be ready for.Whether you're preparing for something or not, it helps being active or doing exercises para pag dumating iyong time na kailangang magpakita ng tiyan o skin,ready ka. It's not as if you're cramming anymore to be ready for a project.I believe in always being ready or always being prepared."

Julia started to be more daring in the 2022 film "Expensive Candy,"  where she played the role of a hooker who had bigger dreams, opposite Carlo Aquino. She shared her goal of showcasing the unique aspects of her identity beyond oozing sex appeal. 

"I'm grateful for projects like these that push me to be more confident in what I am. These things I do only help me become a more secure and braver woman," Julia said. 

Looking ahead to 2024, the actress expressed excitement about the unforeseen opportunities and surprises the coming year holds. 

"Life is so unpredictable these days. Even the opportunities being presented to me come as a surprise. There are, of course, a lot of things to look forward to in 2024. For now, this (calendar) is our first 2024 offering," she concluded.