July 19, 2010 5:56 PM

Charice Pempengco, 18, Gets Botox to Prepare for Upcoming "Glee" Role

By
Joyce Lee
Topics
Television

Charice attends the 41st Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 17, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (CBS) Filipino teen singer Charice Pempengco is going to great lengths to prepare for her upcoming role on "Glee."

PICTURES: Stars' Dramatic Makeovers

In a recent TV interview, the 18-year-old singer revealed she prepped for her debut on the hit FOX show by getting Botox and an anti-aging procedure "to look fresh on camera," according to the Associated Press.

Celebrity cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo told ABS-CBN television that Charice underwent Botox and a 30-minute Thermage skin-tightening procedure to help narrow her "naturally round face."

"Charice's face, I've been noticing, it's been getting wider," she is quoted to saying. Belo continues to blame the singer's chewing-gum habits. "Our chewing muscles, if you chew a lot of gums, it gets bigger."

However, the singer's rep insisted to USMagazine.com that the procedure was strictly to "relieve a jaw problem similar to TMJ."

"You've seen her face - she doesn't have a wrinkle in it so she wouldn't need it for cosmetic purposes. The Glee people are thrilled with the way she looks which is why she got the part."

The singer first got her big break while performing on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" at age 15.  She later appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" and was dubbed the "Most Talented Girl in the World" by the talk show host.

She will play a foreign exchange student on the FOX show and will rival Lea Michele's lead character, Rachel Berry.


Add a Comment
by Streetcred1 July 20, 2010 2:29 AM EDT
I've been reading all the comments on the whole Botox issue and honestly, I find it interesting how everyone is jumping the bandwagon of self-righteousness on this one. Obviously, botox has a negative stigma attached to it. But has anyone really researched that it's an effective medical treatment for TMJ and jaw tension? And all of a sudden, America grew a conscience about botox and teens, where there is a growing trend of teens taking botox in your own backyard?

Another thing regarding others' speil about Glee being "about people from all walks of life, who each face unique challenges," and that somehow, Charice missed the point of the show... -- well, it almost made me teary-eyed...except for the fact the Glee is really the same Hollywood formula -- the fat black girl is a TOKEN and that ALL the VAPID fans seem to draw their attention to the HOT GUYS AND GIRLS of the show. Right. Exactly. Glee is Ugly Betty 2.0, where all the characters are hot and Betty seems to be the backdrop. It's simply a damn show using the "underdog" trend going on, while using the same old Hollywood formula of bringing eye-candy...

I'll just wait for the smoke clears, to be honest. This is pure media sensationalism and I hope you see that. At the end of the day, Charice will still be an amazingly gifted singer who's career is inevitably going to soar...
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by lavendernarcissus July 19, 2010 10:34 PM EDT
Botox is used as a treatment for TMJ disorder, though it is not FDA approved. Unfortunately, there is little awareness for TMJ disorder.. even though there are more than 35 million people in the US who have it. It can be very painful. If you are a member of the press and need more information on TMJ disorder to write a story, please contact TMJ Hope (http://www.tmjhope.org), and I'm sure they would be more than happy to answer questions and provide you with information on TMJ disorder.
Reply to this comment
by Gimmeafb July 20, 2010 1:16 AM EDT
Reading the article carefully, you'll see the doctors said this was mainly for cosmetic reasons. The only time TMJ was mentioned was when her people said it was to treat a condition "similar" to TMJ.

I tend to believe the doctors.
by Gimmeafb July 19, 2010 7:29 PM EDT
No wonder there's so much mental instability and general feelings of inadequacy with today's youth. There's something drastically wrong with society when an 18 year-old needs botox in order to "keep up with the Joneses".
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