WATCH: Kevin Balot is #StrongerNow as Pantene’s First Transgender Ambassador

As the world celebrated Transgender Awareness Week during the second week of November, Pantene Philippines paid tribute to Kevin Balot, the brand’s first-ever transgender ambassador. They released a short inspirational video celebrating Balot’s success as a transgender beauty queen at the Miss International Queen.

Watch the video below:

The video is part of #StrongerNow, Pantene Philippines’ campaign aims to inspire Filipinas to celebrate every scar, every sweat, every struggle regardless of her gender identity or expression, skin color, or weight. It is a collection of stories of struggles and triumphs of Filipinas from all walks of life—from the celebrities we have grown to love to the everyday women we see on our daily commute.

The film highlights Balot’s struggles, which serve as a message of hope to others dealing with the same feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. Its message is uplifting, telling a “young boy, who is sure she is a girl,” not be scared and from there, the story of triumph unfolds.

Just as Pantene strengthens hair by nourishing it from the inside, so can young people focus on working on what is inside them. As Balot says, “strength comes from the inside – where it counts. Instead, Balot tells the young child in the film to “do good, be grateful, find the wins in every day. Remember, you are strong and beautiful, you deserve to be heard. Accepted. Loved.”

This story is in partnership with Procter & Gamble. For more information about the products, visit its website or follow its Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages.