Ruffa Gutierrez goes back to school for master's degree at 51: 'Never too late'

Ruffa Gutierrez is pursuing her master's degree at 51 years old.

The actress shared she has decided to take her master's degree in Communication Arts at her alma mater, the Philippine Women's University.

"Feeling inspired to rekindle my passion for learning!" she captioned her Instagram post. "Life is all about those projects that enrich us and give our lives meaning and purpose. Remember, if you need to hit that restart button, it’s never too late! It’s not always easy, but wow, is it worth it!"

"Cherishing this moment with some amazing women," she added, thanking the school staff. "Let’s go after what makes our souls shine!"

In 2022, Gutierrez earned her college degree at the same university. She was 47 years old at the time.

She dropped out of school as a teen in order to work in showbiz.

"Like most artistas, we start working at an early age. As for me, it was 13 years old,” she said. “Because I was very busy with my career, after high school, I decided to stop and it was not only until my late 40s that I made the decision to get a college degree.”

She said she went back to school to prove to herself that she can surpass every setback and to set a good example to her daughters.

Gutierrez first appeared in film and TV in 1987 and was part of German Moreno's That's Entertainment variety show. In the 90s, she embarked on the beauty pageant scene, winning the Binibining Pilipinas World crown in 1993. She then continued her acting and hosting gigs, appearing in Eat Bulaga!, The Buzz, and It's Showtime.

Gutierrez married Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektas in 2003. They announced their separation through a joint statement in 2007. They share two children, Lorin and Venice.