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Former 'Bulaga' Showdown Girl Gracia confirms separation from husband

Samantha 'Gracia' Lopez is seeking divorce from her British husband after seven years of marriage/NPPA Images

Remember Gracia, Eat Bulaga’s Showdown Girl who gained a strong following – especially among men – because of her sexy dance moves?

Gracia, or Samantha Lopez, has separated from her husband, British businessman Warren Edwards and has reinvented herself as a real estate broker.

Falling out of love 

What happened? What pushes a wife who has everything an ordinary woman can dream of – a wealthy husband and a life in Manhattan – to seek divorce after a seven-year marriage?

“Nagkapatong patong na.  Three years bago ako nag-decide (to separate from her husband),” she replies.

Samantha, who is in town for 10 days to attend to her real estate business,  doesn’t cite just one reason for the separation.  The 14-year age gap between her and her much older husband, the cultural differences between them, the boredom that comes with being a lady of leisure -- all these, she says, eroded her marriage.

"Bottom line is, I fell out of love. Money can't buy happiness."

Fairy tale life

Samantha could have lived a fairy tale life.  And she did, for two-and-a-half years when she stopped working and devoted her life full-time to her husband and their dogs.

But something in her wanted to find fulfillment on her own.

“Hindi ako lumaki na may silver spoon sa bibig.  Bata pa lang ako, nagtatrabaho na ako.”

She started looking for a job and stumbled on real estate by accident. A friend’s client was looking for a house and was only willing to talk to someone he can trust. So Samantha took a real estate broker course and became a licensed practitioner.

Perfect fit

The job is a perfect fit. Those who saw her on TV daily trusted her with their (big) money.

“Kung  ikaw ang client alam mong hindi mo sasangkalan ang pangalan mo para masira lang ito.  Mas  malaki ang risk sa side ko kesa sa side ng client,”  Samantha explains.

Showbiz also taught her how to win people over effortlessly.  Soon,  the rapport she created with her clients expanded Samantha’s business network.

Dreaming big

Now, she dreams even bigger.

“I plan to get more clients – sellers, buyers and/or investors in Asia and to be the exclusive sales representative at one of those new condo developers in Manhattan.”

Yes, she misses showbiz and would love to act again. Samantha enjoyed playing Carla Abellana’s mother in a GMA teleserye two years ago.

But she has to return to New York to look after clients she left behind.

Despite the pending divorce proceedings, Samantha insists she has no regrets.

Good feeling

“I feel in love. It’s a good feeling.”

She also learned “to trust God, have faith in Him and everything will be alright.”

Samantha has moved on. And she wants to get the most out of life by focusing on her job and setting aside her love life for now.

“I’m in a better place.  I was the one who left (the marriage) in May 2013.  He tried to reach out for a year. Nag-counseling pa kami. He tried for a year.”

She hopes that her husband will move on as well.

Loving yourself

“I want him to be happy too.”

And she wouldn’t mind if he finds a new love so both of them can set each other free and he’ll finally sign the divorce papers.

Her experience has taught Samantha to love herself more.

“My advice to women in  mixed marriages is that they be true to themselves. If your husband tries to change you, you have that foundation.”

The smile on her face and the sparkle in her eyes say it all. Samantha has won her personal battle.