Jessy Mendiola Filipino Actress Born 1992 in Dubai

Early life

Jessy Mendiola was born Jessica Mendiola Tawile on 3 December 1992 in Dubai, where her father was working at the time. Her mother is Filipino and her father is Lebanese, and she is the second of three daughters. When she was three, her mother relocated with her and her older sister to the Philippines. She later studied mass communication at Far Eastern University.

Career

Mendiola first appeared in television commercials and began acting at thirteen, taking minor parts in soap operas. In 2007 she was launched as part of Star Magic Batch 15, a group of eighteen new talents presented by the network ABS-CBN. That year she joined the cast of the show Abt Ur Luv Ur Lyf 2, and she had a small role in Natutulog Ba ang Diyos?. In 2008 she played Chappy Girl in the series Volta.

In 2010 she was cast as Christina in Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo, replacing a planned role in another series; a guest spot planned for one week was extended after viewers responded well, and she returned for the final episodes. She also played the reformed rebel Jessy in Your Song Presents: Gimik 2010. Her listed credits begin with Your Song: Boystown in 2009, and her first major break came with the title role in the afternoon series Sabel (2010).

She joined the programme ASAP Rocks in 2011, where she was part of a dance quartet, and played Isabel Valderama in an episode of the Agimat anthology series. She was a guest judge on It's Showtime and had a leading part as Jacqueline Marasigan in the primetime series Budoy. In 2012 she starred in the film The Reunion with Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil and Xian Lim, and in the afternoon series Paraiso. She played the title character in the 2013 Philippine remake of Maria Mercedes. In October 2013 the Korea Tourism Organization named her an honorary ambassador for Korean tourism.

Her later work included the comedy drama Must Date the Playboy and the family drama You're My Home, both in 2015. Her film credits also include Call Center Girl (2013), The Trial (2014) and The Girl in the Orange Dress (2018). After a break of about five years, she signed a contract with ABS-CBN and Star Magic in 2024. In April 2026 she and Vilma Santos took part in the opening episode of the revived game show Kapamilya Deal or No Deal, winning 125,000 pesos for their charities.

Recognition

At the 2012 FAMAS Awards she received the German Moreno Youth Achievement Award. She was the first Filipino to win Best Asia Pacific Star at the fifth Asia Pacific Actors Network Star Awards, held in South Korea. In 2016 FHM Philippines ranked her first on its list of the sexiest women in the country.

Personal life

Mendiola became engaged to the television host Luis Manzano on 12 December 2020, after the two had been dating since June 2016. They held a civil wedding in Lipa, Batangas, on 21 February 2021, and a church ceremony in Coron, Palawan, on 15 February 2024. In 2023 she gave birth to a daughter.