Maine Mendoza

Nicomaine Dei Capili Mendoza was born on March 3, 1995, in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines. Before her rise to fame, she completed her high school education at St. Paul College of Bocaue and pursued a bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant, and institution management with a major in culinary arts at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde. Her internship experience at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, New York, provided her with international exposure in the hospitality industry. Mendoza’s career trajectory began in early 2015 when her Dubsmash compilation, notably impersonating Kris Aquino, went viral, garnering over a million views overnight and earning her the moniker “Queen of Dubsmash” in the Philippines. This digital success quickly transitioned into a mainstream media presence, leading to significant roles that defined her early years in entertainment.

Her breakthrough role came with the noontime variety show *Eat Bulaga!* where she was cast as Yaya Dub (Divina Ursula Bukbukova Smash) in the “Juan For All, All For Juan” segment, making her debut on July 4, 2015. The unscripted pairing with Alden Richards on July 16, 2015, in the “Kalyeserye” sketch formed the popular “AlDub” love team, which significantly boosted *Eat Bulaga!’s* television ratings. This collaboration led to her acting debut in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry *My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore*, where she earned the Best Supporting Actress award. In 2016, she starred in *Imagine You & Me*, a film where she also contributed by writing and performing its theme song. Her influence extends beyond acting; in October 2017, she published her autobiographical book, *Yup, I Am That Girl.*, an extension of her personal blog, further solidifying her multifaceted career.

Throughout her career, Mendoza has consistently achieved significant milestones. In 2017, she and Alden Richards starred in their first prime-time television series, *Destined to be Yours*, where she portrayed Sinag Obispo. Her effectiveness as a brand endorser led to recognition as the Most Valuable Female Advertising Endorser at the Platinum Stallion Awards in 2016. In the same year, she was acknowledged by *PeopleAsia* magazine as one of their “People of the Year.” She also diversified into entrepreneurship, opening a McDonald’s franchise in her hometown in August 2017. Mendoza’s strong online presence, including being ranked among the most-tweeted Filipino celebrities globally in 2017, highlights her continued impact across various platforms.