Belle Mariano Is in Her Era of Becoming

At Medusa at The Palace, beneath gilded lights and velvet shadows, Belle Mariano looks like she's stepped out of a reverie. Draped in dreamy gowns that skim the floor and shimmer under the chandeliers, she moves languidly with an unstudied grace, a portrait of romance and drama.

Yet, just before the cameras clicked on, the young woman was curled up in her makeup chair, bright lights on her tiny frame, curlers in her thick, long hair, and she was alert, thoughtful, and with a penetrating gaze. She was also very honest.

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Belle at 23 is not just a young star poised for the next big project. She is stepping into a larger stage—alone. When we tell her that she is in her era of becoming, she laughs softly. She is bemused. Finally, with a glance at her perfectly manicured nails and then a thoughtful look at her brightly lit reflection in the mirror, she agrees.

“Era of becoming…” she reflects. “I’m entering adulthood. It’s time for me to discover what I want, who I am, and my voice. Whether that may be personal or in terms of my relationships in life or in the industry, it’s an era of growth. And thus, I could say it’s an era of becoming.”

This season in Belle’s career is marked by new directions. For five years, she’s been one half of DonBelle, one of the country’s most beloved love teams with Donny Pangilinan. She’s delicate and pretty, he’s tall and handsome, and in the space between them sparks a chemistry that gives viewers an undeniable kilig. Together, they looked amazing on- and off-screen, and fans couldn’t get enough of them starring in popular drama series He’s Into Her (2021–2022), Can’t Buy Me Love (2023–2024), and currently How to Spot a Red Flag on Viu, and films Love is Color Blind (2021), He’s Into Her: The Movie Cut (2021), and An Inconvenient Love (2022). Bankable as a love team, they are nevertheless ready to try the spotlight alone.