Sharon as mentor in new talent show

SHARON Cuneta wants to make a difference—for “real.”

She admitted that “reality” as a TV show format could be a tad “cruel.” That’s precisely why she’s determined to assume a gentler, kinder hosting style on her two new shows, “Star Power,” which premieres Oct. 10, and “Biggest Loser,” which debuts next year.

(Another show, “Sharon@Home,” was launched on the Lifestyle Network recently.)

Although she’ll be a “nurturing mentor” to aspiring female talents on “Star Power,” she re fuses to be “patronizing.”

“I hope to be a good mix of [‘American Idol’ judges] Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul,” she explained. “I won’t hesitate to tell the truth, but I’ll put it in a constructive way. I will never break someone’s spirit just for ratings.”

Originality counts

She hopes to discover a “real” star. “A lot of newcomers want to sound like Regine Velasquez or Sarah Geronimo. We want them to find their own voice and develop their own style.”

Being a performer herself, she understands completely what each contestant goes through, she said.

“I also had dreams when I was young. I was just fortunate to find the right people who nurtured my dreams,” she pointed out.

She said she aspires to be the same kind of mentor that her beloved Mina del Rosario was to her when she was a kid. “Almost everything I know about the biz I picked up from her. She fought for me and with me. Mama Mina would never allow me to get heavy, for example.”

Which leads us to the “Biggest Loser” gig.

“When I first met with my ABS-CBN bosses for these new projects, I thought I was going to get fired,” she recounted. “Little did I know that they’d be offering three new shows.”

At first, her bosses were hesitant to bring up the “weighty” issue and Sharon was the first to address it at the meeting: “It’s a reality. I know I’m overweight. But I accepted this show because I want to inspire people. I know what’s it like to go through the same problem.”

She has lost 20 pounds so far, she happily reported.

It’s not about vanity, she said. “I want to be healthy because I love my family. Whether we like it or not, obesity is the leading cause of many illnesses.”

She considers “Biggest Loser” a blessing. “I hope to touch people’s lives and tackle the deeper reason why people overeat,” she explained.

When the international franchise’s Asian edition held auditions in Manila, a hundred Pinoys signed up, but for the Kapamilya version, “600 people tried out,” she related.

She candidly admitted that she got slighted when Willie Revillame publicly cracked a joke about her girth because “I love him. He’s my friend. I miss him. I hope to talk to the same Willie I befriended in the past.”

For his part, Willie said that he didn’t mean to hurt nor ridicule Sharon. “I’m asking for forgiveness. When I was down, she was with me. I will never forget that.”

Now her “Star Power” is being pitted against Willie’s new show, “Born to Be a Star,” which will premiere on TV5 next month, too.

“There’s plenty of room for everyone,” said Sharon. “We each have our own audience.”