Actress Shuvee Etrata got the ultimate fangirl surprise when she unexpectedly crossed paths with Filipino tennis star Alex Eala while in New York last August.
Speaking with 24 Oras, the former Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab housemate recalled that she was simply taking photos at a spot in SoHo when she suddenly heard someone calling her name.
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“I’m really a fan of Alex. Nung nandoon ako sa SoHo sa New York, nagpi-picture ako sa isang wall doon. Alam mo na for the aesthetic talaga tayo, picture-picture everywhere. Biglang may nagsabi, ‘Shuvee!’ Doon na ako [nagtanong kung] sino ‘yun,” she recalled.
Shuvee soon realized that the person calling her was none other than Alex, leaving her in disbelief over the unexpected encounter.
“Alex, I love you talaga. Talagang mahal na mahal kita, Alex. Alam niya ‘yan,” she said, as she recalled how thrilled she was when the young athlete approached her.
She added: “Talagang tumakbo talaga siya. [Sabi ko sa kaniya], ‘Alex mahal na mahal talaga kita.’”
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The brief meeting became an unforgettable fangirl moment for Shuvee, who was already a fan of Alex’s not only because of her achievements in tennis but also because of the athlete’s personality.
“Oh my gosh, talagang nag-fangirl ako. Fangirl at its finest. Ang tangkad niya pala. Ang ganda-ganda niya,” she maintained.
Shuvee was also impressed by how warm and humble Alex was during their encounter. She particularly appreciated that the tennis star spoke to her in Filipino despite being surrounded by people speaking English.
“I’m really, really happy and lucky to have met her,” Shuvee expressed.
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The actress first shared a candid photo from their encounter on Instagram on August 26, giving her followers a glimpse of the unexpected meeting. Shuvee and Alex likewise follow each other on the social media platform.
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Shuvee’s trip to the United States also marked another milestone for her as she attended her first international concert, catching Bruno Mars’s The Romantic Tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.