Maria Mika Maxine Perez Medina-Llana (Tagalog:[mɐkˈsinmɛˈdina]; born May 10, 1990) is a Filipina designer, actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe Philippines 2016. She represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2016 and reached the top five. As an actor, she is best known for portraying Blaire Escudero in the Philippine TV series, Magandang Dilag.
Maria Mika Maxine Perez Medina was born on May 10, 1990[1] in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.[2][3] She obtained a bachelor's degree in interior design from the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde and the Philippine School of Interior Design. She works as an interior designer.[4][5] She is a commercial print ad model and a senior member of Professional Models Association of the Philippines.[6]Dianne Medina is her cousin.[7][8]
Medina represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2016, reaching the top six.[10][11][6][12][13]
At the national costume competition, Medina wore a Rhett Eala creation that was inspired by the vinta, a traditional boat from Mindanao, matched with a head piece made to resemble a large piece of coral found in the country's reefs.[14][15] The whole ensemble is said to have cost more than P1 million to make as it was also adorned with south sea pearls.[16]
At the preliminary competition, Medina debuted her alta walk which involved rolling the shoulders in perfect sync with the gliding of hips.[17] She wore a green and white striped bikini at the preliminary swimsuit competition and sashayed in a flowing green gown with a fringe skirt by Rhett Eala at the preliminary evening gown competition.[18][19]
At the coronation, Medina advanced into the top 13.[20] She wore a green and white striped bikini at the top 13 swimsuit competition which let her advance to top 9.[21][22] She wore a silver-red evening gown crafted by Rhett Eala at the top nine evening gown competition and was able to advance into the top six.[23][24]
In 2018, she made her television debut in Hanggang Saan as Atty. Georgette Sandiego.[25] She later played Isay in Los Bastardos which ran from October 2018 to September 2019. She was paired with Jake Cuenca in the series.[26]