# Charlene Gonzales

Charlene Mae Gonzales Bonnin-Muhlach (Tagalog:; born May 1, 1974) is a Filipino actress, media personality and beauty pageant titleholder. Gonzales won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1994 title and represented her country at the Miss Universe 1994 pageant held in Manila, where she won the Best National Costume award and was one of the Top 6 Finalists.
She is also an award-winning talk show host and a commercial model.

## Early and personal life

Charlene Mae Gonzales Bonnin was born to actor Bernard Bonnin and model Elvira Gonzales, on May 1, 1974. Among her siblings is actor Richard Bonnin, and her cousin is Bagets actor J.C. Bonnin. She is of Spanish ancestry and a maternal descendant of the prominent Pamintuan family of Angeles City. She attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California, finishing in 1992. She earned a degree in BS Psychology from the University of Santo Tomas.
She married Filipino actor Aga Muhlach on May 28, 2001. They have twin children born on November 5, 2001, named Antonio Andrés Muhlach and Atasha Aaron.

## Pageant career

Gonzales won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1994 title and represented her country at the Miss Universe 1994 pageant held in Manila, where she won the Best National Costume award and landed in the Top 6. When asked by the host about the number of islands in the Philippines, she boldly asked back, “High tide or low tide?”

## Showbiz career

She hosted the dance program Eezy Dancing on ABC-5 (1997–1998) and Keep On Dancing from (1998–2001) on ABS-CBN and Viva Television Movies on Viva TV. She hosted the show, At Home Ka Dito, a Philippine lifestyle program airing on ABS-CBN. Adding to its branding as a show is the introduction of a reality TV treatment to its features, pioneering what may be a new trend—the reality TV lifestyle show.
In 1994, Gonzales got her first film role with Fernando Poe Jr. in Epimaco Velasco: NBI. She also starred in Ben Delubyo with Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. in (1998) and Resbak with Phillip Salvador (1998).

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1994 | Miss Universe 1994 | Contestant | ABS-CBN |
| 1995–2001 | ASAP | Host | ABS-CBN |
| 1997–1998 | Eezy Dancing | Host | ABC |
| 1997 | 1 for 3 | Marillen | GMA Network |
| 1998–2001 | Keep on Dancing | Host | ABS-CBN |
| 1999–2000 | Oki Doki Doc | | ABS-CBN |
| 2002–2004 | Feel at Home with Charlene | Host | ABS-CBN |
| 2004–2007 | At Home Ka Dito | Host | ABS-CBN |
| 2008–2009 | Proudly Filipina | Host | Q |
| 2008 | Binibining Pilipinas 2008 | Host | GMA Network |
| 2010–2013 | The Buzz | Host | ABS-CBN |
| 2011 | Pinoy Explorer | Guest | TV5 |
| 2024 | Da Pers Family | Charlene | TV5 |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Studio |
| 1994 | Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko | Perla / Pearl | Viva Films |
| 1994 | Epimaco Velasco: NBI | Mrs. Yolly Velasco | Viva Films FLT Films International |
| 1995 | Iligpit si Bobby Ortega: Markang Bungo 2 | Carla | Viva Films |
| 1995 | P're Hanggang sa Huli | Jessica | Viva Films |
| 1996 | Dyesebel | Dyesebel | Viva Films |
| 1996 | Bilang Na ang Araw Mo | Cathy | Neo Films |
| 1996 | Ikaw Naman ang Iiyak | Annie Montoya | Viva Films |
| 1997 | Bobby Barbers: Parak | Virgie | Viva Films |
| 1997 | Bridesmaids | Laura Andrade | Viva Films |
| 1997 | Kadre | | Premiere Productions |
| 1997 | Kalabog en Bosyo | Marlene | Viva Films |
| 1998 | Ben Delubyo | Karen | Neo Films RRJ Films Viva Films |
| 1999 | Resbak, Babalikan Kita | Vanessa | Seiko Films |

## Awards and nominations
### Bb. Pilipinas and Ms. Universe awards

| Year | Organization | Category | Remarks |
| 1994 | Miss Universe 1994 | Herself | Top 6 Finalist (6th) |
| 1994 | Miss Universe | Best in National Costume | Won |
| 1994 | Miss Universe | Most Beautiful Hair | Won |
| 1994 | Binibining Pilipinas | Binibining Pilipinas-Universe | Won |

### TV awards and nominations

| Year | Organization | Award | Program | Remarks |
| 2004 | 18th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Lifestyle Show Host | At Home Ka Dito (2003) | Won |
| 2005 | 19th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Lifestyle Show Host | At Home Ka Dito (2004) | Won |
| 2007 | 21st PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Lifestyle Show Host | At Home Ka Dito (2006) | Nominated |
| 2011 | 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Female Showbiz Oriented Talk Show Host | The Buzz (2010) | Nominated |
| 2013 | 27th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Female Showbiz Oriented Talk Show Host | The Buzz (2012) | Nominated |