Cherie Gil rocks shaved head on magazine cover: ‘It’s like a rebirth of sorts’
There is always courage in letting go. And for actress Cherie Gil, saying goodbye to her luscious locks marks a new beginning and a start of a journey to self-discovery.
The multi-awarded actress and quintessential contravida flaunts her shaved head on the cover of Mega magazine’s February 2022 issue.
(Also gracing the magazine’s three-cover issue for its 30th anniversary with the theme “Rebirth” are Scarlet Snow Belo and Nadine Lustre. All proceeds will be donated to the survivors of Typhoon Odette.)
Cherie proudly shared a photo of the magazine cover, shot by Dennis Tejero, on her new Instagram page.
So, why did Cherie let go of her hair?
Call it liberation from one’s old self or empowerment from gender stereotypes but for Cherie, it is a symbol of growth and a new beginning.
In an excerpt of the cover story penned by Mia Castro, Cherie revealed that it was part of starting over and “creative rebirth” as she calls New York her new home.
She said she got rid of all her clothes that “symbolized a past life,” and eventually, her hair.
“I’m completely finding myself and coming to terms with who I really am. It’s just great to have this opportunity and to be alive to start over. It’s like a rebirth of sorts,” she told the magazine.
Cherie also shared she has gone to therapy and counseling to work on herself.
“Years and years of doing that, I learned that it just boils down to doing the hard work on and with yourself by whatever means,” she said.
“What’s hair ‘di ba? It grows back. It’s symbolic to my personal growth. When a woman is in distress, she cuts her hair,” said Cherie, mother to Jay Eigenmann and Bianca and Raphael Rogoff.
Her photos in the magazine exude power, with her European facial features being highlighted even more sans her crowning glory. With this, it looks like Cherie is more than ready to take on a new journey fearlessly.
“It’s great to also walk into the unknown in the same sense that you have to just take a leap of faith and be continuously connected to your spirituality,” she said.
“I always believe that when things are in sync with what is meant to be with the entirety of the universe, your higher power, whatever you want to call it, it just happens effortlessly and even miraculously.”