Maria Sofia Love detransitions and embraces spirituality

Remember Maria Sofia Love?

After years of hiatus, this viral social media personality shares a life update on his accounts.

On May 31, 2025, via a Facebook livestream, Sofia—who has kept the same name since gaining internet fame in 2015—announces a profound life change.

He has detransitioned from being a trans woman. He has “returned to faith in God.”

In the eight-minute video he posts, Sofia, sporting a fully shaved head, initially struggles to share his life update.

However, he eventually gathers the courage to say: “Nagpalakas lang talaga ako ng loob ko para bumalik, para i-share ang kabutihan na ginawa ng Diyos sa buhay ko.

“Napaka-unfair naman kung hindi ko ishe-share… sa buhay ko lang naman.

“Wala naman akong, hindi ko alam paano mag-uumpisa, I don’t know how to start—but I will try.”

Sofia shares that this major life change comes after he hit rock bottom—a turning point that, he says, led to a major realization.

He reveals that his quest for the approval of others is rooted in the lack of love in his childhood.

In his words: “Hindi ko alam na nung bumagsak pala ako sa buhay, hindi ko alam na doon na nga gumuho yung wall ko, yung mga walls na kulang lang pala ako sa pagmamahal.

“Lumaki akong kulang na kulang sa pagmamahal, so, hinanap ko yun sa mga lalaki. Yung approval, ‘Wow! You’re so beautiful! Wow!’

“Hinanap ko yun sa pagpaparetoke, panghaharbat. Basically, yung pagmamahal na kulang na yun sa puso ko, hinanap ko siya sa mga material na bagay na mga nawawala, nasisira, nabubulok.

“Kaya pala, pighati ang ending ng lolo mo.”

A LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT for MARIA SOFIA LOVE

One day, Sofia says, he experienced a moment of self-awareness. He recognizes the mistakes, missteps, and struggles with same-sex attraction that had shaped his life.

He recalls: “One day, di ba, tayo, maliligo tayo, di ba? Sanay tayo sa, ‘Ay! Ang ganda ng katawan.’

“Titingin sa salamin. Aba, you know what happened? Nung pagtingin ko sa salamin, bigla ko na lang nakita ang sarili ko na lalaki.

“And then, nakita ko ang buong buhay ko in an instant kung saan ako nagkamali, ano yung mga wrong turns ko, anong reason bakit ako naging bakulaw, bakit ako mayroon same-sex attraction.”

Sofia describes the incident as a mysterious enlightenment from God.

“In an instant, hindi ko ma-explain kung anong nangyari, pero it’s misteryoso.

“Hindi ko ma-explain, na alam ko, Diyos lang nakagawa nun na bigla akong naliwanagan kung sino ako, ano ako, at saan ako patungo, kung bakit ako ginawa.

“Tapos, sobrang na-shock ako.

“And then, the next day, bigla na lang akong, nagtuluy-tuloy na, napakagaan ang buhay, nakaramdam ako ng matinding pagsisisi sa puso.

“And then doon na nagbago ang buhay ko, nung tumalikod na ako sa mundo.”

MARIA SOFIA LOVE: REDISCOVERING FAITH

Sofia realizes that the void he had been trying to fill with love, approval, and material things was actually a longing for God.

He says: “Hindi ko alam yung hinahanap ko, Diyos lang pala yun, totoo pala ang Diyos.

“Totoo pala ang Diyos, na Siya lang yung hinahanap ko, na nung napuno na Siya sa buhay ko, wala na akong ibang gusto, kung hindi Siya lang.”

For Sofia, embracing God has filled the emptiness in his heart. It has brought a sense of completeness and peace that does not rely on external validation or material possessions.

“Wala nang kagat mga material sa akin, hindi ko na kailangan ng approval, hindi ko na kailangan ng mga kung anu-ano, bonus na lang yung mga iyan.

“Parang natahimik yung puso ko, yung tipong ne-e-excite ka na sa kamatayan mo, kasi gusto mo na siyang ma-seal, ayaw mo na siyang mawala pa.”

According to Sofia, his experience is something that must be personally felt to be fully understood.

“Hindi ko alam paano ko i-share kasi dapat ma-experience, e, kailangan niyo ma-experience talaga.

“Punung-puno ka ng pagmamahal, punung-puno ka ng kaligayahan na alam mo hindi galing sa iyo, hindi nawawala, hindi nasisira.”

Sofia adds that true reality is found beyond what the eyes can see.

“I don’t know, it’s weird kung ano pa yung nakikita mo sa mga mata mo, in your visible eyes, siya pa yung hindi totoo.

“Kung ano pa yung hindi mo nakikita, siya pa yung totoo.”

MARIA SOFIA LOVE: NEW CHAPTER

Sofia has reconnected with his faith in God and has embraced his identity as a gay man, suggesting that he no longer identifies as a trans woman, despite living as one for nearly two decades.

In a Manila Bulletin feature in 2015, he revealed that he began taking hormone pills at 14 in San Pablo, Laguna, and had sex reassignment surgeries at 23.

Today, Sofia admits he is still attracted to the same sex.

“Hindi naman ako talaga magiging lalaki, yung lalaking macho,” the 42-year-old internet personality says.

“Tanggap ko na bading ako, but I’m experiencing same-sex attraction.

“Yung same-sex attraction na yun, puwede palang ma-overcome yun sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos.

“Ang pagiging bading, bakla pala, ayoko nga tawagin bakla kasi parang degrading yun.

“Kasi image and likeness tayo ng Panginoon, katulad tayo ng Panginoon, di ba?

“Puwede palang gamitin yung kahinaan natin para mapalapit sa kanya, God-willing, makauwi sa langit.

“Tapos puwede rin palang gamitin yun din sa masama, mapalayo ka, dahan-dahan, every day.

“So, na-experience ko kasi yung both sides, e. So, ganun lang, gusto ko lang mag-witness sa inyo, i-share ang goodness, kabutihan ng Diyos, ang awa, pati ako nagulat na totoo pala talaga Siya.”

After reflecting on his journey, Sofia leaves a message for those thinking of transitioning, urging them to thoughtfully weigh their choices.

“Sa mga batang kapatid natin, kasi nung bago ako mag-transition, wala nagsabi sa akin na maiba pa palang daan na matuwid, matino, masaya, tahimik.

“So, sana pag-isipan natin ang pagpapa-sex change. Masaya lang iyan sa akin ha, 10 to 15 years.

“Pag nawala na ang pagkalasing mo sa kaligayahan, nagsawa ka na, kakanta na po si Celine Dion ng ‘It’s all coming back, back to me now…’

“Kasama pa niya si Aling Carmi… sa aking [experience], ha.”

“Aling Carmi” is gay lingo, or the internet slang for karma.

It’s important to understand that Sofia’s journey of detransition and rediscovery is deeply personal, and these experiences can vary widely among individuals within the transgender community.

Towards the end of the video, Sofia expresses his hope that others find true and everlasting happiness, which he believes cannot be seen but only experienced through the goodness of God.

“Sana mahanap niyo din ang totoong kaligayahan na hindi nakikita, na walang hanggang, na hindi ko ma-explain.

“You have to taste and see the goodness of God.”

He also encourages his viewers to make wise decisions, suggesting they learn from his life rather than mirror his past choices.

In Sofia’s words: “Sana lagi tayo maayos kung ano man yung mga decision niyo sa buhay. Sana makatulong itong buhay ko.

“Sana huwag niyong gayahin yung mga ginawa ko dati. Although natuto rin naman ako, may kabutihan din naming dala yun, pero ayoko din siyang gayahin ng ibang tao.”

He concludes the video with: “Okay, salamat, and sana magkita tayo someday ulit, whatever, God-willing. Okay, nice to see you, and I love you.”

MARIA SOFIA LOVE: INTERNET FAME

Maria Sofia Love gained internet fame in 2015 through his viral videos and online presence.

He was known for his catchphrases “Pak!” and “Para sa ekonomiya!” as well as for his self-proclaimed “mowdeling” videos.

Sofia’s fame took a significant downturn after several controversies, notably a 2017 viral video in which she danced provocatively to the Philippine national anthem, “Lupang Hinirang.”

In the footage, she wore a revealing outfit and placed her hand on her crotch, sparking widespread backlash for being “disrespectful.”

Filipino lawmaker Joseph Bernos condemned the act as a breach of nationalistic values and the Constitution, prompting the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to contact the Philippine embassy in Los Angeles, where she was reportedly residing at the time.

READ MORE: