| Melai Cantiveros | |
| Birth Name: | Melisa Bunayog Cantiveros |
| Birth Date: | 6 April 1988 |
| Birth Place: | General Santos, Philippines |
| Yearsactive: | 2009–present |
| Agent: | Star Magic (2010–present) |
| Children: | 2 |
Melisa Bunayog Cantiveros-Francisco (in Tagalog ˈmɛlaɪ kantɪˈbɛɾɔs/; born April 6, 1988) is a Filipino actress, comedian, and host. She came to prominence in 2009, after winning . In 2015, she won the first season of the Filipino version of Your Face Sounds Familiar. She is currently one of ABS-CBN's contract talents. She currently hosts a morning talk show, Magandang Buhay, alongside Regine Velasquez and Jolina Magdangal.
Melisa Bunayog Cantiveros was born in General Santos, Philippines, to Dionisio and Virginia Cantiveros. She is the third of four siblings, and the only daughter. She finished at Mindanao State University–General Santos, where she was an activist and member of a social democratic party.
She married Jason Francisco on December 9, 2013 as she carried their first child, Amelia “Mela” Lucille, born in April 2014 in General Santos. On July 26, 2016, she and Francisco confirmed their separation through their daughter’s Instagram. The couple later reconciled, with Cantiveros having her second child with Francisco, Stela Rosalind, in April 2017.[1] [2] The couple now have the YouTube channel “Melason Family.”[3]
In October 2009, Cantiveros entered the Big Brother house along with 25 other housemates. After 133 days, she was able to garner enough votes to reach the final episode wherein she won the competition by getting 1,226,675 votes or 32.08% of the entire votes.
In February 2010, Cantiveros did guesting in several talk shows like The Buzz, , and Entertainment Live. She was also invited to variety shows such as ASAP ROCKS. She and her real life partner, Jason Francisco, starred in a reality show spin off entitled Melason In Love.
Cantiveros was also cast in the daytime drama Impostor. She also landed a main role in the fantaserye show, Kokey @ Ako. She also played a main role in Maalaala Mo Kaya as a maid named Pangga. She became one of the hosts on the now defunct noon time show Happy, Yipee, Yehey. She also played a main role as Brandy De la Paz in Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Mana Po before the show ended in late March. In February 2015, Cantiveros became the winner of Your Face Sounds Familiar.
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| Year | Title | Role | Notes < | -- Do not replace with or add a Network/Channel column. Network rivalry is outside of Wikipedia. Do not replace with an Episode column, Notes column is not limited to episode titles. --> | < | -- Use third party sources other than the actor's IMDB page --> |
| 2009–2010 | Herself / Housemate | Big Winner | ||||
| 2010 | Kokey at Ako | Josa Reyes | ||||
| Melason In Love | Herself | |||||
| Melason: In Da City | Herself | |||||
| Melason: Promdi Heart | Herself | |||||
| Precious Hearts Romances Presents | Devina "Devin" Ventura | |||||
| Maalaala Mo Kaya | Pangga | Episode: "Toy Car" | ||||
| Wansapanataym | Inday Vargas | Episode: "Inday Bote" | ||||
| 2010–2013; 2015–present | ASAP | Herself / Co-host / Performer | ||||
| 2010–2015 | Banana Sundae | Herself / Various Characters | ||||
| 2010 | Showtime | Herself / Guest Judge | ||||
| Matanglawin | Herself / Guest Co-host | |||||
| 2011 | Precious Hearts Romances Presents | Brandi Dela Paz | ||||
| Maalaala Mo Kaya | Young Carol Araos | Episode: "Birth Certificate" | ||||
| 100 Days to Heaven | Girlie | |||||
| 2011–2013 | I Dare You | Herself / Co-host | ||||
| 2011 | Wansapanataym | Episode: "Wan Tru Lav" | ||||
| 2011–2016 | Kris TV | Herself / Co-host | Recurring | |||
| 2011–2012 | Happy Yipee Yehey! | Herself / Co-host | ||||
| 2012 | Herself — Houseguest | |||||
| Wansapanataym | Bituin | Episode: "Dollhouse" | ||||
| Maalaala Mo Kaya | Norma | Episode: "Baunan" | ||||
| 2013 | Wansapanataym | Pepay | Episode: "Number One Father & Son | |||
| Be Careful With My Heart | Gemma | |||||
| Apoy sa Dagat | Paprika Mendoza | |||||
| 2013–2014 | Honesto | Cleopatra Batungbakal | ||||
| 2014 | Ikaw Lamang | Monica Miravelez | Guest role | |||
| Maalaala Mo Kaya | Nonette | Episode: "Jeep" | ||||
| Ipaglaban Mo! | Elena | Episode: "Nang Dahil Sa Utang" | ||||
| Wansapanataym | Dory | Episode: "Perfecto" | ||||
| Two Wives | Carla | |||||
| Umagang Kay Ganda | Herself / Co-host | |||||
| 2015 | Your Face Sounds Familiar | Herself | Grand Winner (season 1) Co-Host (season 2) | |||
| Wansapanataym | Beverly | Episode: "Noche Buena Gang" | ||||
| Give Love on Christmas | Ruby | Episode: "Exchange Gift" | ||||
| 2016 | We Will Survive | Ma. Cecilia "Maricel" Rubio | ||||
| 2016–present | Magandang Buhay | Herself / Co-host | ||||
| 2018–2019 | ||||||
| 2020–2021 | ||||||
| 2021–2022 | ||||||
| 2022 | The Chosen One: Soap Opera | Host / Jane Crame | [4] | |||
| 2023 | PIEnalo | Herself / Co-host | [5] | |||
| Ur Da Boss | Herself / Main Host | |||||
| It's Your Lucky Day | Herself / Co-host |
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| Year | Title | Role | Notes < | -- Do not replace with or add a Producer/Studio column. Notes column is not limited to titles. --> | Source < | -- Use third party sources other than the actor's IMDB page --> |
| 2010 | I Do | Marian | ||||
| 2011 | The Adventures of Pureza, Queen of the Riles | Pureza | ||||
| 2012 | Larong Bata | Ms. De Regla | ||||
| 2012 | Sisterakas | Janet | ||||
| 2014 | Past Tense | Kelly | ||||
| 2014 | Shake, Rattle & Roll XV | Julie | Segment: “Ahas” | |||
| 2015 | You're Still The One | Meanne | ||||
| 2015 | Sekyu | |||||
| 2015 | The Prenup | Choosy Cayabyab | ||||
| 2018 | Annabelle | Special participation | ||||
| 2018 | Mary, Marry Me | Carey | ||||
| 2021 | Momshies! Ang Soul Mo’y Akin | Mylene | ||||
| The Exorsis | Jessa Mae | |||||
| 2022 | The Entitled | Yaya Monina | ||||
| 2023 | Police Exec. Msgt. Criselda Kaptan |
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASAP POP Viewers' Choice Awards | 2010 | Pop Fans Club | Melason | [7] | |
| 2011 | Pop Movie Loveteam | [8] | |||
| Asia Artist Awards | 2023 | Best Actor Award | Ma’am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul | [9] [10] | |
| Asian Television Awards | 2024 | Best Quiz or Game Show Host | Ur Da Boss | [11] | |
| Cosmopolitan Awards | 2010 | Fun Fearless Women | Herself | [12] | |
| Global Awards for Outstanding Executives | 2022 | Events Host & Media Influencer | Herself | [13] | |
| International Emmy Awards | 2011 | Best Telenovela | Impostor | [14] [15] | |
| PMPC Star Awards for Movies | 2011 | New Movie Actress of the Year | I Do | [16] | |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2023 | Best Celebrity Talk Show Host | Magandang Buhay | [17] | |
| 2021 | [18] | ||||
| 2019 | [19] | ||||
| 2018 | [20] | ||||
| 2017 | [21] | ||||
| 2016 | [22] | ||||
| 2014 | Best Reality Show Host | I Dare You | [23] | ||
| 2010 | New Female TV Personality | Melason | [24] |