# Melai Cantiveros

Melisa Bunayog Cantiveros-Francisco (Tagalog:; born April 6, 1988) is a Filipino actress, comedian, and host. She came to prominence in 2009, after winning Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up. 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, aired on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, ALLTV and Jeepney TV.

## Personal life

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. The couple now have the YouTube channel “Melason Family.”

## Career

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, SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon, 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.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009–2010 | Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up | Herself / Housemate | Big Winner |
| 2010 | Kokey at Ako | Josa Reyes | |
| 2010 | Melason In Love | Herself | |
| 2010 | Melason: In Da City | Herself | |
| 2010 | Melason: Promdi Heart | Herself | |
| 2010 | Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Impostor | Devina "Devin" Ventura | |
| 2010 | Maalaala Mo Kaya | Pangga | Episode: "Toy Car" |
| 2010 | 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 | |
| 2010 | Matanglawin | Herself / Guest Co-host | |
| 2011 | Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Mana Po | Brandi Dela Paz | |
| 2011 | Maalaala Mo Kaya | Young Carol Araos | Episode: "Birth Certificate" |
| 2011 | 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 | Pinoy Big Brother: Unlimited | Herself — Houseguest | |
| 2012 | Wansapanataym | Bituin | Episode: "Dollhouse" |
| 2012 | Maalaala Mo Kaya | Norma | Episode: "Baunan" |
| 2013 | Wansapanataym | Pepay | Episode: "Number One Father & Son |
| 2013 | Be Careful With My Heart | Gemma | |
| 2013 | Apoy sa Dagat | Paprika Mendoza | |
| 2013–2014 | Honesto | Cleopatra Batungbakal | |
| 2014 | Ikaw Lamang | Monica Miravelez | Guest role |
| 2014 | Maalaala Mo Kaya | Nonette | Episode: "Jeep" |
| 2014 | Ipaglaban Mo! | Elena | Episode: "Nang Dahil Sa Utang" |
| 2014 | Wansapanataym | Dory | Episode: "Perfecto" |
| 2014 | Two Wives | Carla | |
| 2014 | Umagang Kay Ganda | Herself / Co-host | |
| 2015 | Your Face Sounds Familiar | Herself | Grand Winner (season 1) Co-Host (season 2) |
| 2015 | Wansapanataym | Beverly | Episode: "Noche Buena Gang" |
| 2015 | 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 | Pinoy Big Brother: Otso | Herself / Co-host | |
| 2020–2021 | Pinoy Big Brother: Connect | Herself / Co-host | |
| 2021–2022 | Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10 | Herself / Co-host | |
| 2022 | The Chosen One: Soap Opera | Host / Jane Crame | |
| 2023 | PIEnalo | Herself / Co-host | |
| 2023 | Ur Da Boss | Herself / Main Host | |
| 2023 | It's Your Lucky Day | Herself / Co-host | |
| 2024 | TV Patrol | Herself / Guest Star Patroller | |
| 2025 | Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition | Herself / Co-host | |
| 2025 | Pilipinas Got Talent | Herself / Co-host | |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 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 | DOTGA: Da One That Ghost Away | Annabelle | Special participation |
| 2018 | Mary, Marry Me | Carey | |
| 2021 | Momshies! Ang Soul Mo’y Akin | Mylene | |
| 2021 | The Exorsis | Jessa Mae | |
| 2022 | The Entitled | Yaya Monina | |
| 2023 | Ma'am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul | Police Exec. Msgt. Criselda Kaptan | |

### Webcast

| Year | Title | Network | Note(s) | Ref. |
| 2024 | Kuan on One | ABS-CBN Entertainment | Thirteen episodes | |

## Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations received by Melai Cantiveros :
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result |
| ASAP POP Viewers' Choice Awards | 2010 | Pop Fans Club | Melason | Won |
| ASAP POP Viewers' Choice Awards | 2011 | Pop Movie Loveteam | The Adventures of Pureza: Queen of the Riles | Nominated |
| Asia Artist Awards | 2023 | Best Actor Award | Ma’am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul | Won |
| Asian Television Awards | 2024 | Best Quiz or Game Show Host | Ur Da Boss | Nominated |
| Cosmopolitan Awards | 2010 | Fun Fearless Women | Herself | Won |
| Global Awards for Outstanding Executives | 2022 | Events Host & Media Influencer | Herself | Won |
| International Emmy Awards | 2011 | Best Telenovela | Impostor | Nominated |
| PMPC Star Awards for Movies | 2011 | New Movie Actress of the Year | I Do | Nominated |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2023 | Best Celebrity Talk Show Host | Magandang Buhay | Won |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2021 | Best Celebrity Talk Show Host | Magandang Buhay | Nominated |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2019 | Best Celebrity Talk Show Host | Magandang Buhay | Nominated |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2018 | Best Celebrity Talk Show Host | Magandang Buhay | Nominated |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2017 | Best Celebrity Talk Show Host | Magandang Buhay | Nominated |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2016 | Best Celebrity Talk Show Host | Magandang Buhay | Nominated |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2014 | Best Reality Show Host | I Dare You | Nominated |
| PMPC Star Awards for Television | 2010 | New Female TV Personality | Melason | Nominated |