Shuvee Etrata Gets Real About Growing Up as a Morena

The reality breakout star admits to using whitening lotions in the past.

Published on Aug 27, 2025

"Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition" housemate Shuvee Etrata

After her stint on Pinoy Big Brother, Shuvee Etrata has been launched into a state of national adoration. Throughout her stay in the house, the Kapuso talent showcased her infectious personality and unrelenting wit, which easily made her a fan favorite among viewers. Despite not making it to the Big Night, her career is looking up as new projects and opportunities are directed her way.

On the show, Shuvee got candid about some of her struggles as she came of age, admitting that she wasn't immune to feeling insecure about her features. In a series of interviews post-PBB, the actress-host got real about what it was like growing up as a morena.

READ:

Shuvee Etrata on Growing Up as a Morena

In a podcast hosted by fellow Bisaya and Pinoy Big Brother alumna Melai Cantiveros, Shuvee recalled how she masked her complexion as an adolescent. "My skin was darker when I was in school," she shared. "And my skin isn't exactly flawless."

An integral aspect of her younger years was pageantry, which became an outlet for her to express herself and represent her origins. However, joining such contests also led her to be ashamed of her morena skin. She recounts how whitening products became part of her routine.

"I was in sixth grade when my auntie pushed me to join. They wanted me to have lighter skin. They used those whitening lotions on me. I looked so white there! I looked like a corpse!" she narrates. Shuvee explains how these products were utilized to give her a fairer complexion, which her aunt viewed as a "strategy" for her to win.

Click to Enlarge

PHOTO: Instagram/shuveeetrata.

During a press conference for a feminine care brand she was inducted as an ambassador for, Shuvee shared some realizations she had about her physical attributes. "I’ve always dealt with insecurities growing up," she admitted.

She shared how morena skin may not have been "uso" when she was growing up, but she's glad that the tides have changed, and for the better. "For the younger generation hearing me right now, I want you to know that your skin complexion doesn’t need fixing. You don’t need to fix it. You just need to embrace it," she declares.

In retrospect, Shuvee has learned to overcome her insecurities and accept the features she's been blessed with. "Tanggapin mo 'yan kasi 'yan ang pinili ni Papa Jesus para sa’yo," she says to people looking up to her for advice. "Maganda ka sa kung sino ka."

Click to Enlarge

PHOTO: Instagram/thazziafalek.

* Parts of this article have been translated from Bisaya to English

Em is queer and probably daydreaming somewhere. They're Preview's associate entertainment editor who's often spotted in cowboy boots and lemon-tinted sunnies.