09/01/2026
"pretty privilege" not so pretty
“Pretty privilege is real”
The other day, I went to the bank~ and the teller was so mean.
She looked at me and said, “Ma’am, saan nanggaling ‘tong ide-deposit mo?” “ Ma’am diba sabi ko sayo pag nag deposit ka ayusin mo ung pera.”
I froze.
Not because I didn’t have an answer, but because I couldn’t believe I was being questioned like that.
For a few seconds, I didn’t know if I should explain myself, defend myself, or just stay quiet.
And then it hit me.
Maybe I didn’t look “presentable” enough that day.
Maybe I didn’t look like someone who deserved respect in their eyes.
That moment made me feel small.
Not because I did anything wrong~ but because I was judged before I was even understood.
That’s when I truly realized how real pretty privilege is.
In this world, people often decide how they will treat you based on how you look, not on who you are.
If you look polished, they’re kinder.
If you look simple, they question you.
Sometimes, they even make you feel like you have to prove yourself.
It’s painful.
And it’s unfair.
But it’s the reality many of us quietly experience.
That experience taught me two things.
First, never let anyone make you feel less just because of how you look on your “ordinary” days.
And second, always choose kindness ~ because you never know who’s already carrying the weight of silent judgment.
Pretty privilege may exist,
but character will always matter more.
And I hope we become the kind of people who give respect freely~
not based on appearance, but on humanity.✨🙏