How Marina Summers Gets “Walang Kaba” Before Hitting the Stage
She might look fearless on stage, but even queens get the jitters.
Contrary to the confidence she shows on stage—and the title of her new single “Walang Kaba”—Marina Summers still gets nervous before a performance. But over time, she’s built a wellness ritual to keep her nerves in check and her glam in place. Here’s how she preps before hitting the stage:
Stretch like your life depends on it.
“Drag is a sport,” Marina says, and she definitely treats it like one. She stretches her neck, arms, legs, and especially her back before performing her heart out. And she feels like a new person right after.
“Nagkakaliwanag ang buhay ko whenever I stretch. It feels like I’m a new person,” Marina shares. Whether she’s dancing or doing a solo standing number, stretching helps her move freely and comfortably in full drag.
She even warms up her face with a bit of face yoga. It helps her look more expressive and connected to her performance. Marina also does facial stretches and animated expressions to prep for lip syncing—very Sharpay Evans-coded.
Lock everything down.
For Marina, everything has to be stage-proof. “I always check security—hindi ‘yung security na bouncer kind ha!” she jokes.
Whether it may be her pins, lace, zipper, shoes—you name it. She wants to make sure that “walang lumilipad habang nagpe-perform ako.”
Rehearse—even if you’ve done it 100 times.
No matter how familiar the song is, Marina always gives herself a mini run-through before stepping onstage. It’s not a full performance—more like an improv-style rehearsal to feel out the energy and reconnect with the lyrics.
Drink your water.
As a Filipina diva/icon/superstar, her number one opponent onstage is a dry throat. When she gets nervous, Marina admits that her breathing speeds up, which makes her throat feel like a desert. “Water helps me ease my tension,” she says.
Say the mantra: I am the show.
Right before she goes on stage, she reminds herself that she’ll eat by saying: “Whatever I do on stage, wala akong gagawing mali because whenever I am on stage, I am the show.”
She tells herself that people travel places to see her. And the mere fact that she stands before them is already worth the show—that’s when her nerves go.
If you need a little boost before your own big moment—whether it’s a stage, a meeting, or just a really good selfie—try her pre-show ritual for yourself. Or you can listen to her new electro-pop anthem “Walang Kaba,” which showcases an alternate version of Marina that she describes as “very maangas at matapang.”
So the next time you see Marina owning the stage, just know: behind that powerhouse performance is a queen who stretched, hydrated, rehearsed, locked her wig down, and reminded herself that she is the moment.
