MANILA, Philippines — Actress and former beauty queen Priscilla Meirelles says she remains open to love and new beginnings following the end of her marriage to actor John Estrada.
Meirelles confirmed on Friday during her guest appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” that she and Estrada are no longer married, two years after she initiated divorce proceedings in her native Brazil.
“We are no longer married. As a foreigner, I have the right to divorce my husband, so last year I went to Brazil and started the process of divorcing him. Actually, not last year — 2024,” she said.
She told host Boy Abunda that Estrada had been informed of her decision.
“For me, the marriage is no longer valid. I don’t see myself sharing a life with that person anymore. I fought for 14 years and I got to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore, and I realized after a lot of things that happened, the best thing for me is really to move forward alone,” she said.
The couple married in 2011 and have one daughter, Samantha Anechka, born in 2012. Meirelles said her decision was also guided by her role as a mother.
“I also did that for my daughter because my child is a girl. I need to be a good example to her,” she said, adding that she and Estrada continue to co-parent. The former couple recently reunited for their daughter’s birthday celebration.
Asked about allegations of third parties, Meirelles responded with a laugh: “There were many. Not just a third party. Fourth. Fifth. Sixth. Buong barangay ata (Maybe even the whole neighborhood).”
Estrada had earlier said they “mutually agreed to take a break” and denied being in a relationship with another woman. Meirelles, however, maintained there was no such agreement.
“We were married when I left the Philippines and we remain married as of this time,” she had said previously. “While there is indeed more to this story, it is not the appropriate time to go into those details. Regardless of what those may be, however, it won't change the course of fate.”
Despite the separation, Meirelles spoke candidly about wanting another chance at love.
“I really hope, Tito Boy, I still find love, you know. I still find someone I can share my life with. I don't think I'm too old for that. I hope not,” she said.
“I really hope I can find someone that I can really feel my best, be my best version, and really build a future where I can have that companionship and, who knows, have more children. I don't know. Science is more advanced, so I really hope that in that walk, I don't lose myself and I, as a person, feel contented and fulfilled.”
Meirelles said she is focusing on work as she enters a new chapter. She has returned to acting and is producing and hosting the podcast “Amigas,” now on its second season.
“I'm the one producing it, I'm the one hosting it as well. I have different friends from different walks of life that we’re going to have honest and open conversations about mundane things, about lifestyle, about anything under the sun,” she said.
“That's one of the projects that I have started and I also have my traveling vlog. I'm actually very busy and I'm just praying that it also translates to a lot of money.”
The second season of “Amigas” launches Saturday at 7 p.m. on her YouTube channel.
For Meirelles, the focus now is forward.
“I don't want to just be in a sidecar like a spectator in someone else's life,” she said.
