ACTRESS AJ Raval turned emotional as she marked the eighth birthday of her eldest daughter, Ariana, reflecting on the hardships she faced as a young mother.
In an Instagram post, AJ shared photos of her daughter and recalled giving birth at 17, describing a time marked by fear, financial struggle, and instability.
“I was 17, scared, broke, and trying to figure out how to be a mom when I still felt like a kid myself,” she wrote, adding that there were moments when life felt overwhelming for both of them.
AJ said she gave birth in a lying-in clinic and later lived with her daughter in a small apartment while they struggled to get by.
Despite wanting at times to return to her parents, she said she chose to persevere on her own. “But we did it. We kept going even when it felt impossible,” she said, calling Ariana “a blessing I never knew I needed.”
Now eight years old, Ariana has grown into a smart, strong, and cheerful child, AJ said.
“Happy birthday to the girl who turned my struggle into strength,” she wrote.
AJ recently revealed that she has five children, three of whom she shares with actor Aljur Abrenica.