Bare BEAUTIFUL

Bianca Gonzalez Intal talks about turning 40 with a renewed sense of self and her own definition of wellness

- BAM ABELLON

Despite having a full schedule, Bianca Gonzalez Intal arrives on the set witha calm and _ easygoing vibe that puts everyone at ease. Free of makeup and in casual clothing, Intal is one of the most watched and most recognizable TV personalities, and yet she still exudes an air of mystery that makes people want to get to know her more.

When asked how she would describe what she does, Intal says she’s a T'V host.” But anyone who has a T’V or a mobile phone knows she has never been just one thing. In her everyday life, she juggles the roles of being a mother, a supporter of education and right to free speech, and an advocate for inclusivity and real beauty, among other things. Which is why we naturally talk about her perpetual gracefulness. She credits her overall wellness for this—one she has been nurturing for years.

“I feel like, now, at this age, my definition of wellness is feeling well in mind, body, and spirit,” Gonzalez, 40, tells MEGA. I think it’s something that we don’t feel as much of. Or at least for me, I didn’t feel much of its importance when I was in my 20s, when you just want to prove so many things to yourself, to the world. But now, I realize the value of really taking care of not just your body, but also your mind and your spirit—your soul. It’s about how nourished you feel. If there’s balance, I think that’s what wellness is.”

Building this kind of balance did not come easy. Intal was a teenager when she started working on TV, and this required her to speak spontaneously. Sometimes, as she would end her day, she’d find herself thinking about what she could have done better, or how she could have expressed herself better. Until now, on the drive home from work, I’m always like, I should have done this this way. I should have asked this question. I should have followed up this way,” she reveals.