Real-Life Goddess - Sherry Sagun-De Castro

Exhibit A: Hanging out in Cafe saGuijo with my traveling doll Djin Djin Exhibit B: time for chocolatey fun! Exhibit C: Camwhoring reunion.

It's pretty apparent that our similarities end in our full figures, long, dark curls, tongue piercings and penchant for chunky accessories but, for some reason, most people mistake us as identical twins. Whenever we get into that situation, I would be quick to clarify we're not related to each other. I'd make fun of her male-sounding big voice and exaggerate my high-pitch laughter and explain we're on the opposing end of the 20-age bracket for emphasis. And most importantly, I prefer typical porn while she adores yaoi.

While her eyes reduce into tiny slits out of happiness when she gets hold of yaoi, I go wide-eyed.

It is amazing how one's confidence can get contagious and inspiring. As the obvious big sister between us, I take pride that I always learn a thing or two from my unofficial twin. I think it's high time we engage in another gabfest after a few years of separation that followed my resignation. I want you all to meet my dear friend Sherry Sagun-DeCastro.

Lornadahl: How's motherhood? I heard you lost extra pounds already after giving birth. Breast feeding ba ang secret behind it? Sherry: Motherhood is the best and at the same time the most tiresome role for a woman. I lost 20 pounds a few weeks after giving birth, they say breast feeding really does help, but I think it's also because you start losing all those extra water and fat you gained during pregnancy. But I'm gaining weight again, I can't say no to good food.

Sherry loves it spicy! No surprise she went for yuk-ge-jang noodle soup during our Korean breakfast. Sherry in New Bombay. And what's left of her eggplant barta. The tamagochi gets fed!

Lornadahl: Where can I get those hips?! Sherry: I've had it ever since I can remember. Hahaha!

Lornadahl: How would you describe your personal fashion style? Sherry: Random. It depends on my mood.

Lornadahl: I know you're into off-shoulder tops, pedal pushers, and occasionally, knee-high boots. Tell us what you'd wear on a casual day and what you'd wear on a party. Sherry: On a casual day? T-shirt, skinny jeans (not that I'm skinny, you know what I mean) and sandals. For parties, it would either be a dress with pumps or an off-shoulder top, skinny jeans again and heels.

Sherry in her all-white garb for a beach wedding in Pagudpud. Looking fab in a party. [Yeah, she spells her own name that way.]

Lornadahl: Which celebrities serve as your style icons? Sherry: None really.

Lornadahl: Did you stop thinking that much about fashion after childbirth? Sherry: The first 3 months after childbirth, I did. I was more into taking care of my baby and being comfortable. It's all because of those many sleepless nights, you won't really have any time to worry about how you look.

Lornadahl: What's the best fashion accessory for big women? Sherry: For me, it's got to be big earrings.

Lornadahl: Oh, yes! I worship big earrings, too! I know you're also into big bags, big wristwatches and big curls. Twins tayo eh! Wait, you've outgrown them na? Sherry: I'm still very much into big bags, big wristwatches, big rings, and big curls. I'm just starting to go back to being conscious about the way I look. I recently had a digital perm so I have big curls again. Woohooo! Next thing would be to start getting used to wearing big earrings again. I haven't worn any from the time I got pregnant up to now. It's going to take some time getting used to it.

The look of satisfaction from her recent digital perm from Tony & Jackey. Is it just me or is it P100 bill customized as bling bling? Enlighten me, Sherry!

Lornadahl: Where do you buy your earrings? Sherry: I buy most of my earrings from those Bente shops. They only sell earrings for 20 pesos, real cheap! It's a good thing that my ears are not that sensitive anymore because in the past I would always have allergies if the earrings I'm wearing are not real gold. So arte!

Lornadahl: How do you deal with I'm-so-fat-and/or-ugly days? Sherry: I just tell myself to get over it! But when all else fails, it helps to have someone special next to you, someone who knows when you feel depressed about the way you look without you telling them, someone who'll tell you that you're beautiful everyday.

Lornadahl: What if THAT person you expect to support you will be the one to crush your self-confidence? Like what happened to me before, remember? Sherry: If that does happen - which I strongly believe it won't - I'll make sure that I crush them too, physically! Hahahaha! I'm a lover not a fighter but I'll still knock you down because for me to start feeling better after that kind of damage to my self-esteem, I'll have to do something to that person that he/she won't forget.

Lornadahl: Would you agree that guys only chase after skinny women? Sherry: Not all of them, I know that for sure. My hubby always tells me that he likes me with a lot of meat. Haha!

Sherry gets a wet kiss from her husband, Jason. Yihi!

Lornadahl: If you were to appear on a billboard or magazine cover, how would you look like? Sherry: A very happy and satisfied mom.

Sherry with baby Keane at 5 months. Keane aka Bilog.

Lornadahl: If you were to endorse a local clothing for big women, what would it be and why? Sherry: I don't really wear branded clothes, so I don't know how to answer this question. My clothes are mostly ukay-ukay, hand-me-downs and from those Korean shops that sell big clothes.

Lornadahl: Me, too! I'm such an ukay ukay fan! Which ukay ukay shops do you frequent? And which Korean shops? I am yet to hear one that cater to big girls! Sherry: It's actually my mom who buys clothes for me. She usually frequents Divisoria for cheap clothes. I would usually buy mine from the Korean-style shops at Victory Mall. Yyou know how Koreans love wearing loose clothes, well it's good for me because it's just the right fit.

Lornadahl: What's the secret behind your self-confidence and body acceptance? Sherry: Just learn to love yourself, EVERYTHING up to the faults, even those stretchmarks, it's what makes me...ME! Also, why not try putting a mirror in your bathroom and look at yourself while you're taking a bath and tell yourself that you're beautiful and sexy. I believe that if you can't stand looking at yourself in the nude, that just shows how bad you see yourself and how low your self-esteem is.

Lornadahl: Ouch. You know I'm such a camwhore, but I don't think I can do nude photography or nude sketchings. Can you go that far? Sherry: Heck no! I can only do self-admiration in the comfort of our own bathroom.

Lornadahl: What is beautiful about being big? Sherry: You stand-out! You just have to learn how to look at it in the positive way.

Lornadahl: How do you respond to the argument that obesity is unhealthy? Sherry: For me, it's unhealthy if you always run out of breath with just doing minor things or if you have high-blood because of too much fats to the point that you can't do most of the normal things you do everyday.

Lornadahl: Given a chance, would you join reality shows like "The Biggest Loser" or "Thintervention with Jackie Warner"? Why or why not? Sherry: Never. I love myself this way. Why would I go as far as joining reality shows to lose weight? If I want to shed a few pounds, I can do it myself at my own pace. I feel like those kinds of shows only humiliate big people and make fun of them.

Lornadahl: Not that I see myself joining reality shows like that, but somehow it promotes the fact that some big people are after fitness, too. Media tend to present fat people as overeating lazybones. Would you agree? Sherry: I understand that there are big people who want to have a change in their lives so they chose to be fit. I just don't like the way media presents TV shows that focus on big people. It always comes through as degrading for me. I don't know, maybe it's just me.

Lornadahl: Don't you find reality shows like these inspirational for other big people? Or such shows encourage people to obsess about inches lost - whether it's done in healthy or unhealthy manner? Sherry: I think it only makes people (even the already thin ones) to become more obsessed with their weight. So much so that they go as far as taking in all kinds of weight-loss medicines or skipping meals. Gosh!

Lornadahl: What do you say to people who say you’re addicted to food? Sherry: What's wrong with that? I love good food, I feel sorry to those who doesn't.

Lornadahl: How do you feel if people stare at you? yell degrading stuff at you? Do you ever experience that? Sherry: Stare at me? I tell myself they're looking at me because I'm beautiful. Yell degrading stuff at me? That never happened to me.

Lornadahl: Do you believe that thin privilege happens? Which of those apply to you? Sherry: I only agreed to one. "I do not have to be afraid that when I talk to my friends or family they will mention the size of my body in a critical manner, or suggest unsolicited diet products and exercise programs." This already happened to me a lot of times. I just tell them that I don't care about what they think as long as I am happy.

Lornadahl: Do you ever confront people? What happens when you do? Sherry: Not really.

Lornadahl: What do fat people want to be called? Sherry: Sexy!

Lornadahl: Why did you have your tongue pierced? Sherry: It's a symbol that I'm a strong woman. It helps boost my self-esteem, makes me feel more confident about myself. I don't know why, though.

Lornadahl: Does a big woman's self-appreciation and self-love root from the culture/environment she's accustomed to? What can you say about Filipinas and their self-appreciation? Sherry: Culture/environment has a lot to do with it. If the environment we live in right now is not so obsessed with the physical appearance, we wouldn't be having any problems with "who looks better with this and that".

Lornadahl: What would you tell your son Keane if he asks someday, "Why are you fat? Why can't you be like other mothers?" Sherry: I'm not like any other moms. I am very happy with my skin. I am beautifully big and proud of it.

Loving the body she's in.

Lornadahl: Let's assume that you'd have a daughter who will turn out to be plus-size when she grows up. How will you convince her or them that it doesn't make her a lesser person? Sherry: I'll tell her that everything about her is unique and that makes her beautiful, every curve!

Lornadahl: Some big girls are unaware that they're beautiful and sexy. What would you tell them? Sherry: Wake up! Stop looking at those magazines that only show skinny women, that is sure to shoot down your self-esteem. Try looking at yourself in the mirror LONGER than when you're looking at those mags, and tell yourself what a knock-out you really are.

Lornadahl: Bakit lahat na ng curves kinuha mo? Di ka man lang nag-share sa mga sisters mo! They're so thin, no? Sherry: They are! Well it's not my fault. I can't help it that I'm the one who's blessed with all the womanly curves. Hahahaha!

***End of Interview***