Before becoming one of the country's rising P-Pop groups, Baby Dolls admitted they almost gave up on the dream they had spent years working for.
In an interview with Luis Manzano, the seven-member girl group composed of Juby, Arianne, Chole, Ina, Johaira, Eriel, and Jelai looked back on the uncertainties they faced before finally making their breakthrough with their debut EP ZoomBaby Dolls in March 2026.
Launched in 2023 on It's Showtime, the group spent nearly three years as resident dancers waiting for the right opportunity. During that time, several members admitted they questioned where their journey was headed.
"As a grupo po, dumating po kami sa point na parang [iniisip namin] 'Saan tayo papunta? Ano 'yung direction namin?' May iba nagpa-plano nang mag-exit," Juby recalled.
"To be honest, ako po [nag-iisip nang umalis] kasi ang laki po ng binali ng katawan ko para mag-adjust sa genre nila eh. Nagpa-pageant kasi talaga ako tapos sila dancer sila, so parang ako, [naiisip] ko na baka hindi 'to para sa akin."
Eventually, she realized the value of staying with the group and trusted that their time would come.
"Pero lumipas po 'yung phase na 'yun. Nakita ko naman po 'yung importance ng grupo, 'yung value po ng grupo, tapos nakita ko po 'yung potensyal namin. Baka may right time pa po para sa amin, baka naghihintay lang 'yung management kung kailan kami puputok."
"Grateful po ako na nalabanan ko 'yung ganong fear at nandito [pa rin] ako," she added.
Arianne also said that she once had to choose between pursuing being part of Baby Dolls and building a stable career. At one point, she had already started working in the BPO industry while the group was still performing as resident dancers without original songs.
"Parang dumating 'yung song namin hanggang na-release siya. Hindi siya natutugma sa schedule ko and then parang pinapapili ako ni Lord kung ano bang mas matimbang sa [akin]. So sabi ko, feeling ko ito na 'yung time ko para mag-desisyon talaga. Pinili ko po 'yung grupo namin."
Despite not knowing what the future would bring, Arianne chose to take the risk.
"Hindi ko alam kung ano po 'yung mababago nito sa life ko. Nag-try ako maniwala sa kaya naming ibigay so ni-let go ko po 'yung job na 'yun and nandito na kami, nagwo-work," she said.
When the group finally learned they would officially be launched way back in 2023, Johaira said excitement came with overwhelming pressure.
"Actually, [ang] naramdaman po talaga namin ay magkahalong kaba at saya. Masaya kasi sa three years na naghintay kami, halos lahat sa amin nawalan na ng pag-asa...tapos nung nandoon na po, ang saya namin. Pero kinakabahan kami [kasi] ito na 'yun eh, ito na 'yung pangarap [namin]," she said.
"[Inisip namin na] 'kung ano man ang mangyari dito, importante na nabigyan tayo ng pagkakataon ipakita kung ano 'yung kaya nating gawin.'"
For Chole, another concern was entering the increasingly competitive P-Pop scene.
"Nung una po kinakabahan kami nung launch kasi ang dami na po actually ng mga P-Pop [groups] ngayon na ang gagaling talaga ng kanta. Iniisip namin na, 'Okay, may song na tayo. Ang saya sa feeling pero baka hanggang dito lang.' May mga ganon po kaming naiisip na baka matabunan or hindi mag-trend ['yung songs namin]."
Fortunately, those fears disappeared once they saw people embracing their songs.
"Pero nung nakikita na namin na alam siya ng mga tao at nagagawa siya ng mga tao, sinasayaw siya ng mga tao, parang 'Ito na 'yun. Ito na pala talaga.' Talagang nakilala na kami," she continued.
The group also reflected on how they gradually embraced becoming known for novelty music.
Eriel admitted they initially imagined themselves performing in a more powerful style, since that is what they have been more familiar with on It's Showtime.
"Nung una, parang we were leaning towards sa powerful na type of genre. Tapos nung nalaman po namin na novelty, ako po honestly, [napatanong] po ako [ng] 'Totoo ba? Novelty?'"
But as time went on, they found pride in introducing novelty music to a new generation.
"Pero at the same time po, natutuwa ako na magbibigay buhay po kami sa bagong generation [at] bagong tunog ng novelty...We're happy po na doon po kami napunta. Nagkaroon po kami ng bagong identity and we love that new identity."
"To be honest po, sobrang kino-cope po namin siya ngayon. Gusto po naming maging maka-masa kami," Eriel maintained.
Meanwhile, Juby also admitted she initially had doubts about their hit "Oooh Lala Baby."
"Masyado siyang sweet, malambot, at babaeng babae. Eh nasanay kami sa It's Showtime na bomba 'yung choreography. [Nung una iniisip ko] na baka hindi siya magustuhan ng masa," she said, adding: "Pero baliktad 'yung nangyari. Sobrang mahal na mahal po nila 'yung 'Oooh Lala Baby' kaya na-embrace po namin 'yung song at buong album...Sobrang saya."
Asked what some of their most memorable memories as a group could be, Ina recalled how fulfilling it was to perform at the Aurora Music Festival 2026, where thousands of concertgoers were already dancing to "Ikembot Mo."
"Nagulat kami na kaka-release pa lang nung song pero nung kinakanta namin, may mga tao nang sumasabay ng sayaw sa 'Ikembot Mo.' Kaya sobrang nakaka-fulfill po."
Eriel echoed the same sentiment, saying she was overwhelmed when they performed "Oooh Lala Baby" live for the first time and later saw people posting dance videos, tagging the group, and even flashing Baby Dolls's hand sign on social media.
For Jelai, meanwhile, one of the most meaningful rewards has been inspiring people beyond music.
She shared that she has received messages from supporters saying they feel more confident embracing their morena skin and long hair because of her.
"Hindi ko in-expect na dahil ganito ko pine-present 'yung sarili ko, meron akong mai-inspire na [tao]...Sinasabihan nila ako na 'Please, wag kang magpapaputi kasi ikaw 'yung inspirasyon ko.' Hindi ko po talaga in-expect."
From overcoming doubts to proudly owning the novelty music image that sets them apart, Baby Dolls continue to prove that believing in their journey was worth it.
The group's viral hits have since inspired thousands of dance videos online, while their Grand Baby Dolls Day last July 17 brought together Kapamilyas and celebrities who joined them in dancing to their now-signature songs.