Iza Calzado Marks International Women’s Day With Stunning Maternity Photos, 'May Every One Of Us Feel More Than Enough'

There’s a lot to say about a woman’s physical body.

'Parang tumaba ka?' 'Ang iksi ng suot mo.' 'Bakit mukhang losyang?' 'Ang sexy naman.' 'Mas maganda ka pag payat.'

Sadly, most of the things we say and hear about a woman’s physical body are negative, derogatory, and sexist.

Borrowing from the famous monologue of America Ferrera in the hit movie Barbie, "You are so beautiful and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough." Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong. You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin."

We forget to acknowledge and affirm the beauty and power a woman’s body holds—beyond the physique, beyond the body shape, beyond the size.

Right before the celebration of International Women’s Day, actress and mom of one Iza Calzado shared some jaw-dropping maternity photos.

Iza Calzado shares powerful nude maternity photos on International Women's Day

Wearing only her confidence as a mom in her 40s, plus a few pieces of jewelry, Iza was beyond stunning. It was magical, that a portrait without many props, accessories, and set design could exude so many emotions.

Additionally, it was what Iza wrote that made it more special. The award-winning actress said, 'When I look at these images, I am reminded of how powerful I felt when I was giving life to Deia inside me. It was the first time in my life that I fully embraced my body and the DIVINE POWER inside me."

She continued, "As I felt the life growing inside me, I vividly remember holding my belly as it dawned on me what great privilege and power I have been given to carry a child."

"May every woman be able to tap into their power, in whatever way, shape, or form. It may be by revolutionizing change in their own communities. Being a career woman or homemaker, being a creative or having a corporate job. Whether it is by nurturing yourself, a child, pets, plants or other people we have chosen as our family. You are giving life to another, yes, even art—and that is power."

"As we usher in International Women’s Day, may every woman feel worthy to take up space and be seen and heard. May every one of us feel more than enough."

"Celebrating and honoring my body for all that it has done for me and continue to do for me. I AM GRATEFUL. I AM A WOMAN. I AM POWERFUL!"

Celebrities laud Iza Calzado's post

Celebrity friends of Iza flocked to the comments section with messages of love and affirmation. "BEAUTIFUL," said host and mom of one, Bea Fabregas. Also a mom of one, social media influencer Camille Co said, "Love this so much! So moving [heart emoji]." Beauty queen and mom of two, Katarina Rodriguez meanwhile wrote, "Mother has mothered!!"

Of course, the best comment was from Ben Wintle, Iza’s husband, "I am very proud of how far you've come [heart emoji]."

Iza Calzado's journey to loving her postpartum body

In December 2023, Iza also shared her journey towards loving her postpartum body, "One of the most challenging things about a new mother’s life is dealing with our postpartum body. I have had to constantly remind myself of how worthy and enough I am at this stage of my life. Even with my #thebodyloverevolution journey, it’s still tough to have my body change. In my case, change again and again."

Iza admitted to doing drastic measures before parties, events or projects, "I would go on a very strict diet even do a lot of shortcuts like juicing or fasting etc and really kill myself at the gym just to lose weight."

After becoming a mom, she decided to change her mindset, "This time around, I chose to just continue eating healthy and clocking in my usual workout hours (adjusted to my motherhood realities) and reminded myself that no matter my size, I was, I am and will always be enough. I am whole."

She also thanked Deia Amihan, her one-year-old daughter, for the powerful reminder, "Most grateful for my child, Deia Amihan, for making me realize that my body was made not merely for aesthetic reasons but to fulfill a purpose so big, no weighing scale or tape measure can begin to comprehend. This is my body’s true beauty and power. [heart emoji]."

An ode to a woman’s body

Iza’s message on International Women’s Day is a tribute to every woman’s physical body.

Not just the aesthetic body that can rock a two-piece bikini, but the physical body of a woman that endures pain, bleeding, and dysmenorrhea.

The physical body of a woman that manages every hormonal imbalance that often comes with mood swings and skin breakouts.

The physical body of a woman that safely carries the life of a child, complete with all they need for nine months, experiencing the most painful labor and birth pains, and still able to smile once they hear the baby make their first cry.

The physical body of a woman left with belly flops from pregnancy and birth, marked forever with stretch marks, and sagging breasts from producing breast milk.

And yet, every woman will go through each and everything of it. Every pain, every non-aesthetic thing our body bears and gets, is a badge that our physical body gave life, is giving life, and will always give life.

As Iza said, 'May every one of us feel more than enough.' Because we are.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Celebrity mom Dimples Romana also inspired moms to honor the body that carried us through childbirth, in a topless and barefaced photoshoot here.