Let's talk about James Reid's unconventional career choices

James Reid has earned himself a lot of labels—singer, songwriter, actor (with the kind of hair you’d show your barber), red carpet darling, and avid mountain climber, to name a few—but “ordinary” isn’t one of them. In fact, he’s swerved his career far away from the stereotype, and it’s made him one of the freshest personalities in local showbiz for quite some time.

His time in the industry started conventionally enough: After winning Pinoy Big Brother in 2010, he was immediately signed on as a talent with Star Magic and started working the daytime television circuit. Along the way, he launched pop albums, was worked into one of the biggest love-teams in showbiz, and gained an enormous following on social media.

But things never really took off for him on a personal level until he started to break from the traditional formula for success. In fact, it was the bold move to step away from the cookie-cutter career path that’s earned him the life he now enjoys. And he established his niche in several ways:

Not just another trending idol

Starring in TV shows and movies wasn’t enough; James wanted to make full use of his talents. While some artists are content to be matinee stars, he felt he had more to offer in the music department. He pushed to be established as a singer, and his efforts were rewarded with two best-selling pop albums.

His switch of music genre

But even then, he felt the need to stand out even more. While his pop music was well-received, he wanted to produce an album that was closer to his personal sound. In 2017, he launched Palm Dreams, an RNB-influenced effort that featured heavier beats and a decidedly less-bubblegum flow. It was a surprise hit among audiences, converting people who normally wouldn’t have been interested in “just another matinee idol” into genuine fans of his music.

Refusing to play “nice” on social media

James is known for being candid on social media, giving a real voice to his posts instead of having a heavily-managed feed. His choice of words doesn’t quite fit the wholesome mold established earlier on in his career, and it’s made him all the more relatable as a result.

Breaking the cardinal rules for love-teams

By admitting that he was in a relationship with Nadine, James broke one of the biggest rules of love teams. After all, they’re supposed to keep audiences guessing about their relationship status and project a squeaky-clean, almost chaste image. This move, however controversial, helped him earned the respect of fans and showbiz journalists, and they gained an even bigger following in return.

James brought the #DareToGetFresher attitude to his career, and it’s got him feeling like the best version of himself. It also helps that he’s literally feeling fresher thanks to CLEAR giving him Total 5 Scalp Freshness—without any dandruff, itching, dirt, grease, or residue on his head, he’s free to act more boldly and think more clearly about his lifestyle.

Breaking the mold not only gave James a boost of confidence, but it’s also given him the fresh perspective he needed to bring his career to new heights. “When others try to dictate you, I say: Challenge the norm,” he shares in this video: