Nicomaine Dei Capili Mendoza-Atayde, a Filipino performer, gained prominence in 2015 after a series of Dubsmash videos went viral on Facebook. Her rapid rise from digital content creator to television fixture in the Philippines was cemented by her role as Yaya Dub in the long-running noontime variety program Eat Bulaga! and its unscripted KalyeSerye segment.
Educational Background and Early Life
Born on March 3, 1995, in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Mendoza is the daughter of Mary Ann and Teodoro Mendoza. She completed her secondary education at St. Paul College of Bocaue. Following this, she attended the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in hotel, restaurant, and institution management, with a major in culinary arts. As part of her professional training, she completed an internship at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, New York.
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Mendoza first appeared on Eat Bulaga! on July 4, 2015, playing the personal assistant character Yaya Dub. By July 16, 2015, her unscripted interactions with co-host Alden Richards in the KalyeSerye segment captured significant public interest, forming the popular media pairing known as AlDub. Beyond her work on variety programs such as Sunday PINASaya, she expanded into scripted television, including roles in Princess in the Palace and the sitcom Vampire Ang Daddy Ko. Her film credits include the 2015 production My Bebe Love, for which she received the Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2016, she starred in the film Imagine You and Me, contributing to the project by writing and performing the theme song.
Commercial Reach and Branding
In addition to her performance work, Mendoza established a significant profile as a commercial model and brand ambassador. By 2016, she had secured 30 product endorsements, leading to her being recognized as a prominent advertising figure in the Philippines. Her image has appeared on the covers of numerous publications, including Preview, Meg, Reader's Digest Asia, and PeopleAsia. In 2017, she published an autobiographical work titled Yup, I Am That Girl., which provided an unfiltered perspective on her experiences, drawing from her earlier blogging efforts.
Fast facts
- Born: 3 March 1995, Santa Maria, Philippines
- Education: De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde
- Academic Degree: Bachelor of Arts
- Primary Occupations: Actor, comedian, television presenter, model
- Notable TV Work: Eat Bulaga!, KalyeSerye, Princess in the Palace
- Notable Film Work: My Bebe Love, Imagine You and Me
- Languages: Italian, English, Tagalog
Questions readers ask
What is the origin of the name AlDub?
It is a portmanteau combining the first name of co-host Alden Richards and the character name Yaya Dub, which Mendoza portrayed in the KalyeSerye segment.
Did Maine Mendoza win any major acting awards?
Yes, she won the Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 2015 film My Bebe Love.
