Fashion
Marian Rivera Is the Woman They Warned You About
A pillar of Philippine entertainment, the actress has always done things her way
Published on Aug 4, 2025
Marian Rivera’s confrontational spirit is often seen as a character flaw. This reputation has accompanied her over the years, thanks to an incident that dates back to 2008. On the set of Dyesebel, the then-young actress got in a heated argument with an intruder whom she caught recording without permission. The footage made rounds online and became a hot topic in tabloids, giving birth to lore. She later on said in a television interview: “Kahit minu-minuto po nilang ipalabas yung video na 'yon, paulit-ulit ko pa rin pong sasabihin na basta mabastos na lang o maapi ng kahit sino. Babae po ako, dapat nirerespeto at ginagalang po ako.”
Nearly two decades later, succeeding controversies, whether exaggerated or invented, have only contributed to the mythology surrounding her. As her star continued to rise—over a dozen hit soap operas, countless billboards along EDSA, and an enviable cachet among big-name brands such as Bvlgari—so too did rumors trail her success. Each issue fed the narrative of Marian being too bold, too loud, too difficult, too much.
But what’s wrong with being “too much”?
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MARIAN RIVERA for Preview August 2025 by Andrea Beldua.
In an industry obsessed with image, and a world that expects women to shrink themselves and submit, being true to herself is a radical act. “Wala naman masama sa pagiging transparent, as long as wala ka namang sinasagasaan,” she declares. “Ngayon, pag inapi mo ko, papatol ako sayo.” In being "palaban,” Marian rewrites the script.
Standing around 5 feet 2 inches tall, Marian carries a petite allure. Her small, oval-shaped face is accentuated by brown eyes that arch when she laughs, while her dimples have become one of her most recognizable traits. With fair skin and finely sculpted Patrician features from her Spanish lineage, she effortlessly embodies a beauty ideal revered in a culture fixated on fairness.
But though beauty opened doors for her, it has taken more than just her looks to cement her status as one of the Philippines’ most beloved icons.
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ON MARIAN: Red suit set, custom, MAISON SORIANO, Instagram/maison_soriano. PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
Marian’s acting career began 20 years ago—on August 15, 2005, to be exact—with her first television show Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako. It was her first soap opera role after a stint in commercial modeling, and it led to her 2007 lead role in Marimar, which catapulted her to stardom.
The adaptation of the Mexican telenovela broke records during that period, with the finale episode posting a 52.6% rating. Later on, she took flight as Darna and then starred in Amaya, which then solidified her status as Primetime Queen. These tropes follow a formula: “Gusto nila yung mabait ka, inapi ka, tapos lumaban ka,” Marian explains to Preview.
Case-in-point: the 2009 TV adaptation of the Carlo J. Caparas comic classic Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang, which saw a flood of viewer complaints and ran for only three months.
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PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
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PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
SHOP MARIAN's LOOK: Allegra Watch 103713
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Divas Dream Earrings 360699
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Divas Dream Ring 353809
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Divas Dream Ring 358933
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Rose Gold, Diamond and Rubellite Divas Dream NeCklace 360700
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Serpenti Sugarloaf Shoulder Bag 294537
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Today, Marian still soars above the country’s biggest celebrities. On Facebook alone, she commands a fanbase of over 32 million followers—a number that at one point made her the most followed Filipino celebrity on the platform (she has since been eclipsed by Ivana Alawi by three million). In 2020, Marian made Forbes Asia’s inaugural list of influential stars not only in the Philippines but across the Asia-Pacific region.
But Marian has never rested on her laurels, and her superpower is her ability to evolve. After the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which coincided with two separate three-year maternity leaves, Marian underwent a reinvention: she starred in more blockbuster films.
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ON MARIAN: Padded blazer and maxi skirt, custom, SACASAS, Instagram/sacasas_. PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
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PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
To the ordinary viewer, an artista is an artista regardless of medium. But for actors, there’s a difference. Soap operas are tailored for a network’s star, while movies begin with an airtight script.
“Lagi akong soap opera, [kaya noong una] parang natatakot akong sumubok sa pelikula kasi hindi ko yan forte. Hindi ako nasanay dyan,” she says. “Yung soap, kahit sino pwedeng manood. Pero yung pelikula, ang mga tao, magbabayad para panoorin ka."
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PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
SHOP MARIAN's LOOK: Divas Dream Necklace 358113
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Divas Dream Earrings 361278
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B.Zero1 Necklace 358320
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B.Zero1 Ring 361166
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Serpenti Forever Medium Top Handle Bag 293742, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3
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But again, she powered through—and with flying colors. Rewind (2023), which starred Marian alongside real-life partner Dingdong Dantes, made history as the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. According to ABS-CBN, the film earned over P845 million in local and international sales—signalling a positive direction for the Philippine film industry at a time of uncertainty.
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ON MARIAN: Blazer, CAROLINA HERRERA, Greenbelt 5. Trousers, THOM BROWNE, UNIVERS Greenbelt 3. Glasses, archival, GENTLE MONSTER. PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
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PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
And then came Balota (2024), an indie political thriller that tackled vote-buying, ballot-snatching and election-related killings. It was a first for Marian to star in a Cinemalaya film, where she breathed life to public school teacher Emmy. For the role, she was required to go bare-faced, spare for some lipstick to make her naturally red lips look pale.
"Ang laking opportunity sa'kin gumawa ng pelikula na ganito ka-makabuluhan,” Marian says. “[Sa twenty years ko sa showbiz,] ngayon ko palang nae-experience yan lahat. Kaya masasabi ko na, sa career ko, ito nga siguro yung pangalawang yugto.”
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PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
SHOP MARIAN's LOOK: Divas Dream Necklace 358114 [styled as a brooch]
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Divas Dream Earrings 361109
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Divas Dream Watch 103995
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Serpenti Sunglasses 904265, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3
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As she steps into what she calls the second chapter of her career, Marian is also seeing a rewrite of the narratives others have pinned on her. In March 2024, at a press conference, actress Kiray Celis openly talked about being warned about the star. “Lahat po ‘yun, kabaligtaran sa lahat ng sinasabi nila,” she was quoted as saying. "Kung gano nila sinasabing nakakatakot, sobrang nakakatawa. Kung gaano sinasabi nila maldita, sobrang kulit.”
It echoes the experience of actress Ana Feleo, who had also been cautioned about working with Marian prior to joining Amaya. Plot twist: Ana went on to become one of Marian’s best friends within and beyond the industry.
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ON MARIAN: Cut-out dress, custom, CHYNNA MAMAWAL, Instagram/chynnamamawal. PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
SHOP MARIAN's LOOK: Rose gold Divas Dream Necklace with Color Gemstones 361412
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Rose Gold, Diamond and Rubellite Divas Dream Necklace 360700
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Divas Dream Earrings 361441
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Divas Dream Watch 103767, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3
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But it’s not only people in showbiz that sing praises about Marian’s kindness. Even people who work for her have good things to say. Her daughter Letizia’s former voice teacher disclosed to Preview that Marian “always made [her] feel respected”.
“Ma’am Marian is personable in her tone when she talks to me, and she always shows people like me that she is grateful for all the help we give her family,” the teacher said. “She is a true beauty—beautiful inside and out.” It’s a side of Marian that rarely reaches the spotlight—but she accepts that this is part and parcel of life in the public eye.
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PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
“That’s the reality kaya mahirap maging artista. Public property ka. May mga bagay na nakabuo na sa utak nila kung sino ka. Yung mga binabato nila, galing ten years ago pa. Bakit ganun?"
She finds it “unfair” that being quiet is seen as a virtue for women even in the face of injustice. So as an act of resistance, Marian remains authentic to herself, which may translate to being "too much," as critics would say. But being “too much”’ is exactly what propelled Marian Rivera to the top.
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PHOTO: Andrea Beldua.
Being “too much” is what makes her capable of embodying female leads like Darna, Amaya, and Teacher Emmy—women who persist, demand dignity, and symbolize strength. Being “too much” is what lets her thrive despite the toxicity of celebrity: the endless scrutiny, the double standards, the pressure to smile through exhaustion.
And being “too much” is what empowers her to blaze trails beyond the screen—challenging expectations, uplifting women, and using her voice to champion causes that matter. If anything, it’s the world that’s ruthlessly “too much”.
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ON MARIAN: Blazer and trousers, CAROLINA HERRERA, Greenbelt 5. Takion 01, P17,000, GENTLE MONSTER, gentlemonster.com. PHOTOS: Andrea Beldua
SHOP MARIAN's LOOK: Allegra Watch 103499
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B.Zero1 Necklace 358320
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B.Zero1 Ring 361166
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B.Zero1 Bracelet 360631
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Divas Dream Earrings 361278
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Serpenti Forever Medium Top Handle Bag 293663, BVLGARI, Greenbelt 3
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“Ang mga babae ngayon, iba na, hindi tulad ng twenty years ago. Palaban na rin sila ngayon,” she reflects, highlighting a shift in perspective from women like her today. Marian is definitely a catalyst to this change, and that, perhaps, is her true power.
But Marian endures it all—not by being agreeable, or palatable, but by being relentless. Her being “too much” is what makes Marian, Marian.
Behind-the-scenes photos by Bea Felice Panganiban
Produced and Styled by the Preview Team
Editor-in-Chief: Marj Ramos-Clemente
Creative Director: Bacs Arcebal
Managing Editor/Producer: Reg Rodriguez
Co-producer: Em Enriquez
Assoc. Multimedia Director: Jana Jodloman
Photographed by Andrea Beldua. Fashion Direction by Paulina Singh. Styling by Melville Sy of Studio 24c, assisted by Chelsy Estrada. Beauty Direction by Kyla Villena. Makeup by Emman Magpantay. Hairstyle by Nante Alingasa. Cover story by Pola del Monte. Video direction by Jana Jodloman, shot by Teddy Garcia Jr.. Set and production design by Justine Arcega-Bumanlag, assisted by Louie Sandro. BTS photos by Bea Felice Panganiban. Social media coverage by Sophia Rosello. Photographer’s assistants: Lou Fajardo, Jr Baylon, Mario Pepito. Set men: Jan Abal, Jeber Cunanan, Castor Mosquito, Mark Anthony Bondoc , Jonel Navarro, Olderico Bondoc, Nick Narte. Shot on location Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria by IHG. Special thanks to Jesha Abad of Bulgari Philippines, and Patria Puyat, Vianney Antonio, Sheila Girao, Jhun Combiene Jr., Edmond de Jesus of Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria.
Pola del Monte is a journalist, former UN Women consultant and Cosmo Women of Influence 2024 Awardee. She posts about writing, communication and media literacy on Instagram: @MissChiefEditor.