Badjao girl Rita Gabiola joins ‘PBB Lucky season 7’

MANILA, Philippines – Two teens who became social media sensations are the latest to join Pinoy Big Brother Lucky season 7.

Rita Gabiola, a Badjao girl from Lucena, Quezon, was confirmed as one of the new teen housemates in the show. (READ: Viral Badjao girl receives financial support for her education)

In an interview aired on TV Patrol, August 4, Rita, whose viral photo was taken at the Pahiyas Festival last May, said that her life has changed a lot since then.

“Sobrang maayos na po ang buhay namin. Hindi na po kami naghihirap,” she said. 

(Our lives are okay now. We’re not going through hard times anymore.)

“Nakakakain na po kami. Hindi na po kami namamalimos. (We can eat proper meals already. We don’t have to beg anymore).”

Rita said that she dreamed of being in showbiz, so she auditioned for PBB. She said one of her favorite shows is Tubig at Langis.

Aside from Rita, another girl whose photo went viral, Kristine Hammond, is also part of the show.

Kristine became known as “Yakult Girl,” after a certain Kenneth Perry posted her photo taken at a public market in Talisay, Batangas, captioning it: “Kung meron silang Pastillas girl at kwek-kwek girl, kami dito sa Talisay, Batangas may ‘Yakult Girl,’ a half-British half-Filipina who’s selling yakult at Talisay public market.”

(If they have Pastillas Girl and kwek-kwek girl, here in Talisay, Batangas, we have Yakult Girl, a half-British half-Filipina, who’s selling Yakult at Talisay public market.)

Let’s welcome, Ang Sporty Spice ng Biñan, Kristine Hammond! #PBBLuckyBigJump pic.twitter.com/01B2LYBMhK

— Pinoy Big Brother (@PBBabscbn) August 4, 2016

The two join the other three other teen housemates – Edward Barber, Vivoree Esclito, and Yong Muhajil, who were introduced a few days earlier on the show. – Rappler.com