As she began to see changes in her physique, Amanda discovered a newfound confidence that radiated from within. Her enthusiasm for fitness soon turned into a full-fledged career, with her creating content around her workout routines, diet, and lifestyle.

While other fresh graduates in Makati chased corporate ladders, Amanda chased light. Specifically, the light that bled through the chaotic, beautiful arteries of Manila. Her friends called her “Amateur Amanda,” not as an insult, but as a gentle fact. She worked the night shift at a 24/7 convenience store in Malate to afford film and developing chemicals. Her apartment was a closet-sized space in a cramped tenement, shared with the scent of adobo from three other families.