Nikki Valdez looks back on negative comments she received when she dated Troy Montero

Nikki Valdez looked back on the negative comments she received when she was dating Troy Montero over two decades ago.

On Monday's episode of "Fast Talk With Boy Abunda," the actress said her relationship with Troy was difficult because it happened during the peak of his career.

Back then, fans could not believe that Troy would be dating Nikki.

"Ang daming na-shock na parang 'ha? Bakit siya?' Bakit daw ako? Umabot pa nga sa point na may reference pa sila na ang foreigner ay mahilig sa kamukha ko. May ganoon noong time na 'yon," Nikki said.

She said that it was painful not only for her but also for her family to hear the judgments from people.

"My kuya then was in college and I remembered he told me na napanood niya 'yung isang interview sa TV na 'yun na nga na parang 'Bakit si Nikki Valdez? Ang mga foreigner talaga mahihilig sa mukhang ganyan.' So nasaktan 'yung Kuya ko for me," she said.

According to Nikki, she was traumatized and it came to the point that she no longer read the newspaper because of those negative comments about her.

"Siguro kung that happened in this generation, 'yung sinasabi nila na mental health ko bagsak, negative talaga kasi hindi ko alam paano umabot sa ganon. Eh siyempre noong time na 'yon, in love lang tayo, tao lang naman tayo," she said.

Despite what happened, Nikki believed that what she and Troy had was a "genuine kind of love."

Nikki and Troy dated for seven months in 2001. She is now married to her non-showbiz boyfriend Luis Garcia.

Meanwhile, Troy has been with Aubrey Miles since 2003 and got married in 2022. They have two children together, Hunter and Rocket.

Nikki currently stars in "Lolong: Bayani ng Bayan" which airs on GMA Prime from Monday to Friday at 8:00 p.m. after "24 Oras."

—Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA Integrated News