After failing to secure a councilor seat in Pasig City’s 2nd District in the 2025 midterm elections, actress Ara Mina has shifted her focus to her business ventures and foundation work.
She ran under the ticket of mayoral candidate and controversial contractor Sarah Discaya, who also lost in the elections.
“For now, I’m conditioning myself na wag muna,” Ara said when asked about any political plans during Maddox Jewelry’s first-ever fashion show at Teodore Events Place in Marikina. “Maybe I will just focus on foundation work and concentrate on my business. Napapabayaan ko kasi yung business ko and some people told me to bring it back.”
Outside showbiz, Ara owns Hazelberry - A Taste of Love, a bakery café, and is the founder of the skincare line Ara’s Secret. She said she plans to launch more products this year.
Ara said she has no regrets about what transpired during the local polls. “That’s just how politics is. You win, you lose… I still help people pa rin naman whether I’m in politics or not. I still continue helping people.”
“I hope for the best na lang for everyone and for our country. I have nothing bad to say because all I want is for our country to be okay, and I have nothing against the people who showed me kindness.”
During the Maddox Jewelry event, Ara sported a pixie cut and showed off her fit figure.
“I missed my short hair,” Ara told reporters. “Remember 20 years ago in ‘Bubble Gang,’ I had short hair. When I lost weight, I thought short hair would suit me. I realized I missed having a pixie cut.”
She began a gradual diet in 2019 and has lost 55 pounds since. She acknowledged that maintaining her weight has been the hardest part of her fitness journey.
“Now I need to tone,” she shared. “I gained four pounds and I need to lose that four pounds. Kasi ‘pag hindi mo ni-lose yung four pounds na yun in a week or two-week time, magtutuloy-tuloy yan. From time to time, I monitor my weight on the scale.”
As part of her diet, she skips soda and occasionally replaces rice with shirataki rice. “Sometimes, I drink soft drinks when it’s really hot, but just one to three sips. Rice ko naka-cup.”
Ara now weighs 129 pounds and has dropped from wearing medium to extra-small dresses. Her highest weight was 180 pounds during her pregnancy.
She also does Pilates as part of her exercise routine. “I also do workouts without machines, like arm circles and massaging my tummy every morning. This year, I’ll launch a channel, or they could watch my ‘Magandang AraW’ show on Net 25 where I’ll share slimming tips.”
Maddox Jewelry owner Charo Cordial and celebrity endorsers Annabelle Rama, Jao Mapa, Yayo Aguila, Ara Mina, Katya Santos, Maui Taylor, Desiree del Valle, and others also graced the fashion show event.
