If there’s anyone who understands that fame is fleeting, it’s Maine Mendoza.
The 22-year-old actress knows what it feels like to be a total unknown one moment and on top of the world the next — as a result of her onscreen love team with actor Alden Richards. She knows the process could go the other way just as quickly.
But two years after she became an overnight phenomenon, Maine is still overwhelmed by the blessings that continue to come her way.
“I never dreamed of being in this position. Everything happened so fast for me and Alden. I still could not fathom what people saw in me. It’s a question that I honestly still could not answer,” Maine said in mostly Filipino during the recent launch of CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino’s “Forever Young” campaign.
Maine insists that a lot of people may not be aware of it but much of AlDub’s success is a product of hard work.
“Some people think that what we do is easy, that it’s all glitz and glamour and everything is very relaxed. But the truth is, there’s a lot of downside to being an artist, a celebrity,” the reluctant superstar pointed out.
Although AlDub remains a daily trending topic on Twitter, the frenzy has somewhat settled down as Maine and Alden are taking well-deserved respites while waiting for their next big projects after their successful teleserye, “Destined to be Yours,” and their blockbuster movie, “Imagine You and Me.”
Even so, Maine is still trying to find ways to broaden her horizons and reveal sides of her that not too many of her fans have noticed before.
“Just like in most things, once you reach the top, you just want to maintain your ranking,” Maine noted.
Early this year, she was included in Mega magazine’s 25 Iconic Women list. Last month, she landed on the cover of the 20th anniversary issue of Cosmopolitan magazine and just recently posted several photos from her recent vacation at the Maldives that also showed her sexy side, which might explain her Top 10 ranking in the last update of FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women list.
But while Maine is not likely to shed her wholesome image anytime soon, most of her activities are geared towards showing her fans that she’s enjoying whatever she has while she still has it.
Maine admits that she’s inspired by the success of CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino, considered as the country’s number one tocino.
“I’m very impressed with the unique concept of their ‘Forever Young’ commercial. We began the campaign with me just saying, ‘Iba talaga pag forever young’ which had people wondering if this is about a new beauty product until we revealed that it’s about food, about CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino. I think this is the kind of campaign that will look and sound fresh for consumers.”
Maine says she’s personally fascinated by the idea of being “forever young” which for her also serves as a reminder to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground.
“Fame may not last forever but at least when it comes to tocino, you can have something that’s forever young,” she quipped.
