“First time nakangiti sa picture,” Goin’ Bulilit graduate Sharlene San Pedro happily posted on Instagram, April 23, 2022.

The attached photo showed her posing beside her latest purchase: a black Ford car,

On Twitter, she revealed she bought her new ride with her earnings as a gaming-content creator.

Her tweet read, “Sulit ang puyat at pagod sa pagka-live. Thank you, Lord.”

Sharlene’s post was celebrated by her fellow celebrities.

Kimpoy Feliciano commented, “Ayan na! Congrats Shar!”

Actress Barbie Imperial wrote, “Pasundo po.”

Batang Quiapo star Miles Ocampo said, “Congratulations, beshie.”

Singer-songwriter Adie of “Paraluman” fame, joked, “Di naman marunong mag-drive.”

FINDING HER PLACE IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD

In 2021, Sharlene joined the video-gaming market, and began streaming content to share her passion with fellow enthusiasts.

She said in one of her YouTube vlogs, “Sa pandemic talaga nag-start iyon. Kasi noong time na iyon, walang trabaho.

“Hindi ko naman naisip na magiging trabaho ko sa ngayon, pero nakakatuwa na minsan, ilalagay ka ni Lord sa unexpected na basta hayaan mo lang Siya. Ngayon ito ang nagiging regular work ko, pag-i-stream.”

She signed with esports and video-gaming-oriented agency Tier One Entertainment, of which Alodia Gosiengfiao is one of the founders, in December 2022.

A report by ABS-CBN News in 2022 estimated that gamers, including gaming-content creators, make between PHP138,000 to PHP275,000 a month.

Among the actresses who have also become gaming-content creators are Louise Delos Reyes, Michelle Dee, Faye Lorenzo, Myrtle Sarrosa, and Megan Young.

READ Myrtle Sarrosa invests seven digits in land, but, “yung binili kong lupa, sa game

SHOWBIZ BEGINNINGS

Sharlene, a native of Pulilan, Bulacan, was first seen on the ABS-CBN’s reality-based talent search show Star Circle Quest in 2004.

She won first runner-up, and bagged an exclusive contract for ABS-CBN as part of its talent arm, Star Magic.

Aside from Goin’ Bulilit, Sharlene was also seen in the Kapamilya shows Krystala, OK Fine Whatever, Mga Anghel na Walang Langit, and Princess Sarah.

The 24-year-old star also served as one of MYX channel’s video jocks or VJs.

Dabbling in recording, she launched her debut single, a cover of Mayonnaise’s track “Paraan” in 2016.