Actress-content creator Mika Salamanca revealed which celebrity she thinks is “performative” online, and her candid answer surprised everyone.
Speaking on Hot Takes, Mika shared her sentiments on online validation and public perception. As social media users continue to debate whether what they see online is genuine or merely performative, Mika was honest in sharing her own perspective as an actress and content creator herself.
During the show’s One for the Road segment, Mika was dared to eat spicy food or answer a spicy question: Which celebrity or influencer do you think is performative online?
Rather than avoiding the challenge, Mika eagerly took on both. With everyone waiting for her answer, she candidly revealed her response.
“I really think...ako,” she said while laughing.
“Kasi lagi nila sinasabi sa akin na performative ako!” she expressed.
The playful exchange soon led to a more reflective conversation as Mika opened up about how the label “performative” is often used online and why she believes the meaning behind it deserves a closer look.
“Alam [niyo]...sinasabihan ako lagi na performative. Ganito na ba yung pagiging performative? Kapag naging totoo?...Alam niyo meron akong Hot Take diyan,” she said.
Rather than dismissing the criticism outright, Mika shared her belief that the idea of being performative is not always negative.
“I really think ang mga tao ngayon sa mundo, kailangan maging a little bit performative if it’s going to make them a good person”.
She explained that if certain actions encourage kindness and inspire people to help others, then the conversation surrounding performativity becomes more multifaceted.
“If yung pagiging hindi mo performative is magiging masamang tao ka pero kapag performative ka pala [ay] napakabait mong tao [at] nakakatulong ka sa ibang tao – I think kailangan natin ng konting performativity,” she maintained.
“Kailangan natin maging kahit konti lang na performative sa buhay natin kung magiging mas mabuting tao tayo. I think we should,” she added.
For the actress, people are sometimes quick to question good intentions, especially when preconceived opinions already exist. However, she noted that audiences must also be open to the possibility that a person might genuinely choose to become better.
“Lagi na lang [kasi] kapag may nakita kang magandang ginawa ng tao feeling mo [lalo] kapag hater ka nila, ‘Ay performative, hindi yan totoo, hindi sila ganiyan’. Kasi meron ka ng view sa kanila [na] hindi sila mabuting tao. Pero what if nagbabago na? What if gusto talagang tumulong ng tao? Mabuti talaga yung tao?”
Mika acknowledged that how people define performative often depends on personal interpretation and perspective, saying that it is okay to become one if it is for the good.
“Kung ganong nakaka-impluwensiya ang ibang tao para maging mabuti, I think we should be performative if it’s not a bad thing”.
Beyond the discussion on online authenticity, Mika also admitted that she sees herself as someone who is naturally a people pleaser. But after facing hurdles and setbacks in life, she said she has learned to become more honest with herself and fully embrace who she truly is.