For Heart Evangelista, the world is her runway. What began as a passion influenced by the women around her has grown into a signature of style and self-expression—something the world has come to recognize her for. Today, the Filipino style icon spends seasons in major fashion capitals, witnessing firsthand the freshest designs from the biggest names and brands in the industry.

At the launch of the second installment of the GCash Spotlight Series and the app’s newest payment innovation, Tap to Pay, Heart looked back on her journey and shared a few lessons she has picked up from attending international fashion weeks, turning 40, and embracing who she truly is.

Heart confessed that the journey to where she is now wasn’t easy. She had to fight a lot of battles—internal and external—to achieve what she dreamed of in life. Apart from her support system, what helped her most was her love for style, which she used to liberate herself from doubt, fear, and expectations others placed on her.

“I discovered self-expression. It is truly my armor. I’d rather dress than put my anxiety all over my face,” she said in an interview with TV host boy Abunda. “This is my way of fighting it. Some people would say fashion is so pompous. No, it is not. It is how I live, it is how I choose to face my battles every day. Some people may not get it—I don’t care. I get it, and I love it.”

It is easy to get caught up with what’s hot—the “it” item of fashion—especially in the age of social media. During a style session, Heart, together with stylist Pam Quinones, explored how people should shift their perspective on trends, and instead focus on what pieces work for them, stressing that there are no rules when it comes to what’s “right” in fashion.

“When I think of fashion, it is all about what feels good for me—creating something unique that builds on and aligns with my personal style,” Pam said. “I see it as a point of view. What I believe in manifests in how I choose to present myself, and I have fun in the process."

“When you choose clothes, it should be innate,” Heart added. “No matter how you mix and match these things, if it is truly who you are, they will fall into place naturally.”

When Heart celebrated her 40th birthday this year, she also marked a new era in her life. This chapter celebrates her elegance, strength, and newfound maturity in creativity and relationships.

“I feel like this is my soft-girl era…I feel like when you reach your 40s, it comes with that innate poise that comes with experience. I attended many funerals and buried old versions of myself in the past. I did a lot of healing. I went through a war path,” she reflected. “I gave myself away so many times because I wanted people to like me, and I wanted more friends. I didn’t want to be alone. Now, I have no regrets. I’ve accepted what I’ve done, what has happened to me. I’ve adjusted to the woman that I am today.”

Jumping from one city to another, one runway show to the next, Heart’s life is made of minutes so important that each one feels like a story in itself. With her fast-paced lifestyle, the Filipino actress understands the value of time—time that she wants to dedicate to the people she loves and the things that matter to her. This is where convenience and her partnership with GCash come to play.

Now widely accepted at thousands of partner merchants nationwide, the new GCash Tap to Pay works on Mastercard-enabled terminals that accept NFC payments. Beyond the Philippines, GCash users are among the first to be able to use Tap to Pay internationally through a partnership with Alipay+ and Mastercard, greatly expanding the acceptance of GCash worldwide.

Scan the QR code and listen as Heart shares more about her style journey and her experiences at international fashion weeks.