Actress Kylie Padilla shared an emotional reflection on how her unexpected pregnancy and subsequent marriage shifted the trajectory of her rising career, admitting she felt pressured into tying the knot to satisfy others’ expectations.
In a candid interview with her aunt, BB Gandanghari, posted on YouTube, Kylie recalled the peak of her acting success during Encantadia, when her surprise pregnancy forced her to step away. “I was scared… I had just started becoming one of the favorites after a rough start. Then I got pregnant and thought, ‘Sayang ‘yung pinaghirapan ko,’” she said, expressing frustration over missed opportunities and endorsements.
She also revealed that marriage wasn’t something she was ready for or even believed in—but felt compelled to go through with it due to the circumstances. “I did it to make everyone else happy,” Kylie admitted, adding that the weight of marriage was something she wasn’t emotionally prepared for.
Looking back, she said the pandemic magnified the cracks in her relationship with then-husband Aljur Abrenica, and they both came to terms with the reality that their marriage wasn’t working. “We made a mistake. And that’s okay. It’s a lesson learned. I’ve forgiven myself, and he’s moved on too,” she shared.
As a single mom, Kylie spoke of the challenges of balancing work and parenting. She said she now values emotional and financial stability more deeply and hopes to find a partner who can be a genuine provider and allow her to rest from the constant hustle.
“I don’t want to be tired forever,” she said. “I need someone who will say, ‘Okay, you can rest now.’”
Kylie and Aljur, who dated for six years, had their first child in 2017 and married in 2018 before welcoming a second. They publicly confirmed their separation in 2021. Aljur is now in a relationship with actress AJ Raval, while Kylie is rumored to be dating tattoo artist Jinno John Simon, though she hasn’t confirmed it.