“Ano ang maipapakita ko sa aking thirties?”

This was the very question Kim Chiu asked herself as she reflected on her long and colorful journey in the entertainment industry.

Fondly known as the “Chinita Princess,” Kim first captured the public’s heart back in 2006, when she joined the first season of Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition. She would go on to become the season’s big winner, earning 626,562 votes—or a remarkable 41.4% of the total votes cast.

Photo from @starmagicphils

Her victory paved the way for her entry into show business, where she became part of a popular love team with fellow PBB housemate Gerald Anderson. The two starred in several well-loved television series and films, instantly cementing their place as one of the industry’s most sought-after love teams.

From lighthearted teen dramas and romantic comedies, Kim gradually transitioned into more mature and versatile roles. She took the lead in the 2012 horror film The Healing, and later portrayed a college student in the hit Kapamilya series Ina, Kapatid, Anak.

More recently, she showcased her dramatic range in Linlang and the Philippine adaptation of the Korean hit drama What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?, where she was paired with her current on-screen partner, Paulo Avelino.

Photo from @starmagicphils

Having explored a wide array of roles throughout her teens and twenties, Kim admitted that turning 30 prompted her to reflect on what more she could offer as an actress at this stage of her life. With a laugh, she candidly answered her own question: “Skin.”

This newfound boldness takes center stage in her upcoming Prime Video series The Alibi, where she portrays Stella Morales, a sex worker whose life becomes entangled with Vincent Cabrera (played by Paulo Avelino), a man accused of killing his best friend, Walter Cunanan (played by Sam Milby).

During the advance screening of the show’s first episode, audiences were quick to notice a completely different side of Kim. A particularly talked-about scene featured her performing a sensuous pole dance, captivating the crowd as she confidently bared almost her body and soul.

According to Kim, this decision to embrace a daring role stemmed from her desire to challenge herself as an actress entering her mid-thirties.

“Siguro naman as a 35-year-old woman, tapos na tayo sa 16-year-old role na teen pero favorite ko talagang magpatawa pero parang ‘pag tina-track ko ‘yung journey ko dito sa industriyang ‘to, parang nahati ko naman na siya sa teens, twenties sabi ko ano ang maipapakita ko sa aking thirties, I think it’s my skin,” she shared during The Alibi’s media conference on Tuesday at Trinoma Mall Cinema 6.

Though she admitted the role was far from easy, Kim said she was determined to give justice to Stella Morales—and to prove skeptics wrong about her capabilities.

“Medyo mahirap na gawin pero gusto ko lang magpakita ng bago at sa mga nagsasabing hindi ako marunong sa ganitong klaseng role, eto na, eto na ‘yun so I want to prove all of them wrong and that I can do more than what they know,” she revealed.

When asked what convinced her to take on such a challenging project, Kim pointed to her unwavering trust in Dreamscape Entertainment, the production team that she credits for shaping her career from the very beginning.

“I don’t know pero malaki talaga ‘yung tiwala ko sa Dreamscape, as in sila talaga ‘yung naghubog sa akin,” she said.

Photo from @starmagicphils

Kim also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dreamscape, her co-star Paulo, whom she described as deeply respectful, and the entire team behind The Alibi, who ensured that her transition into a sexier role was handled with care and artistic precision.

“So thank you talaga sa Dreamscape and, of course, si Pao rin naman malaking tulong din siya dahil kita ko naman ‘yung respeto niya sa akin and sa mga director namin na inaalagaan ‘yung mga shots and ‘yung mga cameramen namin sa mga nagiilaw. Ang ganda ng launching ng body ko. Thank you so much,” she said.

To cap off her reflections, Kim shared that everything she does as an actress—no matter how daring or different—is ultimately for her loyal supporters who have stayed with her through the highs and lows of her nearly two-decade career.

“More than the skin, parang it’s what’s inside me and what I want to show to all my supporters and kung magkakaroon man ng bagong supporters, maraming salamat po,” she concluded.

Photo from @starmagicphils

Written by Danica Domingo and directed by FM Reyes and Jojo Saguin, “The Alibi” is set to premiere on Prime Video on November 7, 2025.