Although women are vastly represented in many television series and programs, it’s rare that a woman is depicted as reserved, kind, and empowered at the same time. In most cases, a female character is always described as vulnerable or a textbook damsel-in-distress, if you will.
But in The Stepdaughters, an afternoon drama premiering on Feb. 12, Megan Youngplays the lead as an empowered woman. Mayumi Dela Rosa, a young woman who changes her destiny by simply being determined and true to herself. Beautiful and intelligent, she graduated with a degree in Chemistry with flying colors. She also dreams of creating her own makeup product line.
“Mayumi isn’t well-off and it wasn’t her choice but it was her and mother’s choice to succeed in ways that they could only hope for. And they used their goodwill, their good nature to push forward in life. So, I could say that Mayumi has developed and grown because of her personality and upbringing,” the former Miss World told Manila Standard.
Asked how she relates to the character she portrays, she said she wants to believe that she’s generally nice and kind.
“I’d like to think that I have a good heart, but being nice goes a long way for anyone, in a job that you have. You can be brave for yourself, but if you are naturally nice to people, no matter how mean they are to you, you can definitely go far,” she mused.
The Stepdaughters is a story of two women who are both beautiful and intelligent but with personalities that couldn’t be any more different. They have always been destined to be rivals and both of them aren’t ones to back away from a fight. It is a classic soap which highlights some of the most important values in life—honesty, love for family, the determination to reach one’s dreams despite the odds, and how true beauty stems from having a genuinely good heart.
Joining Megan is Katrina Halili, her fellow StarStruck Avenger, and her real-life beau Mikael Daez, the love interest of both female leads.
Completing the cast are Glydel Mercado, Gary Estrada, Angelu de Leon, Sef Cadayona, Samantha Lopez, Allan Paule, and Dion Ignacio.
The series is under the helm of director Paul Sta. Anawith the creative team composed of creative director Roy Iglesias, creative consultant Aloy Adlawan, concept creator and headwriter Geng Delgado, writers J-mee Katanyagand Kutz Enriquezand brainstormers Evie Macapugay, Wiro Michael Ladera, and Nehem Dallego.
The Stepdaughters is created by the GMA Entertainment Content Group under the supervision of Senior Vice President for ECG Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Vice President for Drama Redgie A. Magno, Assistant Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior Program Manager Hazel F. Abonitaand Executive Producer Lui Cadag.