Starting from the ground up, Slimfair CEO Robina Rose Cao shares how she continuously transforms negativity into empowerment
Self-acceptance has always been easier said than done. The amount of work that you have to put in in order for you to overcome your insecurities can be a whole lifetime journey on its own. The longing for external validation can be so strong that, sometimes, we forget that loving ourselves is an inside job, and that the glow people see outside is merely just a reflection of the beauty from within. With everything our body is doing for us, it’s only proper that we learn how to take care of it and show the love it rightfully deserves.
For Robina Rose Cao, CEO of local beauty and wellness brand Slimfair, achieving the body she’s always wanted was one of her steps in recognizing her own beauty. Now with her fast-rising brand, she is on a mission to eliminate the seeds of self-doubt by helping the community in regaining control of their own body without the fear of letting loose and indulging in the simple joys in life.
A catalyst for change
“Ever since I was a child, I have always been an entrepreneur. It’s something I feel is very organic to me,” Robina shares as she recalls her humble beginnings. From selling her brother’s artworks back when she was still in first grade, to owning a mini sari-sari store at the front of their house, Robina has always felt like being a business owner is something that came naturally to her. Not wanting to feel like a burden when her family was facing financial difficulties drove her to venture into different kinds of businesses. “Like many Filipino families, we encountered financial difficulties din. So that was also a kind of motivation for me to earn money for myself,” she shares.
Fast forward to her adolescence, Robina started to become more conscious about her appearance, just like any other teenager at that point in time. Remembering how she stood out from her peers and family members, she shared how people ridiculed her simply because of her appearance. “I remember just being embarrassed and insecure [about] the way I look. I would get teased by my cousins, schoolmates, even my aunties and uncles,” she says.
This took a heavy toll on her confidence and only filled her with self-doubt and humiliation. Growing up, she never really minded how she looked. It was only when she reached her teenage years that she felt those unsolicited comments about her body truly affected her. The only silver lining was that she allowed the negativity to strengthen her desire for change and how it shaped her to be the woman that she is today. “That feeling of embarrassment is what fueled me to venture into beauty and wellness in general. I guess that’s the good thing that came out of all those years of not feeling good about myself,” Robina reveals.
Blossoming through adversity
Driven by the unfair treatment she received growing up, she strived to prove everyone wrong. However, given the amount of products that she had accumulated in her journey to achieve the image she wanted, she realized that most of her income was going straight to her beauty products.
“One day I was looking at my skincare products and naisip ko na I was spending so much of my income on those things… I locked that idea in my memory bank, I saved up for the capital, collaborated with my chemist and then, voila, Slimfair was born,” she discloses. Her award-winning beauty brand came from her desire to become the woman she’s always dreamed of. From achieving more radiant skin, to getting the body she desires, Robina took charge of her own life.
The young CEO made sure that Slimfair could serve as a tool that can help everyone in regaining their confidence. It’s no secret that our appearance will inevitably change as we grow older, but by taking charge of our own body, we can aid it to be the best it can be in order for it to go through the natural stages of life gracefully.
“I want [women] to feel good about themselves from the moment they wake up and not just after putting on their makeup.”
Robina on her ultimate goal as a CEO of a beauty and wellness company
Now, years later after founding her company, Robina is now a multi-awarded businesswoman, with her brand quickly on the rise. Positively glowing with pride, also with a handful of awards to her name, Robina is optimistic for her and her company’s future, knowing how Slimfair has become an avenue of redeeming one’s confidence. “The awards for me are a reminder of where [Slimfair] had started, how far we have come and how far we can go,” she expresses.
Coming into one’s own
The definition of beauty has shifted numerous times over the years. It’s an ever-evolving term. Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder, but our toughest critics are always ourselves. Coming into terms with her own imperfections and claiming control of her body helped Robina blossom into who she is today. Now, she is helping Filipinas in feeling good about themselves by not letting the feeling of inferiority conceal the beauty they already possess.
“A Slimfair Lady knows how to enjoy and let loose, and at the same time be in control of her daily life.”
Robina Rose Cao, CEO of Slimfair
Throughout her journey, she had a new-found purpose in giving people hope that becoming the person you’ve always wanted is indeed possible. Robina wants everyone to speak about their bodies in an affectionate way, because nothing beats the glow of a person beaming with confidence and positivity.
Photography EXCEL PANLAQUE of KLIQ INC.
Creative Direction GARI SY
Hair and Makeup RICHARD STRANDZ assisted by ANGEL STRANDZ
Styling CARLOS TOMAWIS
All pieces by DEBBIE CO
Shoot Coordination TONI MENDOZA, MJ ALMERO, and ERIKA QUERUBIN
