I don’t know about you but I was made to believe that being morena was not at all beautiful, back when I was younger, I saw tons of beauty ads with a mestiza in it.
Growing up I never believed that I am beautiful. People would always say "you're getting too dark, stay inside." I couldn't since I like going out. But I need to admit that I once tried to lighten my skin. Like washing my body and face with whitening products hopes of being seen as the pretty Filipina. People loved it but something inside me feels incomplete. 
When I went to college and was exposed to a more diverse group of peers, it opened my eyes to finally acknowledge my skin color was never ugly to begin with; I just never had enough positive experiences with people who looked like me. I started to love sitting in the sun in the summer and testing how dark my skin could get.
It has taken a lot of self-reflection and self-love to get to how I feel now. Although I still struggle to fully accept my skin, I have grown to love it more than I have before. Many Filipinos will continue to believe that I am too dark or not at my full potential, but I will continue to try and dismiss these remarks.
"She's Floryselle- She's fearless, has the courage to take risks and willing to get out of her comfort zone even if it means being uncomfortable. She believes that road less travelled is never easy but it can be worth it. She finds that she's most self-actualized when she's embracing the here and now. Explore and learn from her life stories and adventures at once.. "
''Free is she, who lives in spite of fear, carrying her soul that craves adventure and wearing her heart for the world to see.''