Iya Villania facts for kids

Iya Villania-Arellano (born Raelene Elaine Villania on June 29, 1986) is a famous Filipino-Australian celebrity. She is known for being a singer, actress, model, dancer, and TV host. Many people recognize her from her work as a VJ on the music channel MYX. She also hosted the "Chika Minute" news segment on GMA's primetime show 24 Oras.

Iya's Early Life and Family

Iya Villania was born and grew up in Sydney, Australia. Her parents, Ray and Elena Villania, are both from the Philippines. She is the youngest of three children, with two older sisters named Rhoda and Sheila. Iya's love for music began when she was young, listening to her father sing karaoke.

She later moved to the Philippines for high school. Iya attended Colegio San Agustin in Makati and finished in March 2004. She then went to De La Salle University – Manila. She studied psychology and graduated in December 2008.

On January 31, 2014, Iya married her longtime boyfriend, Drew Arellano. Drew is also a well-known television host. Their wedding took place in Nasugbu, Batangas. They have four children together: Antonio Primo (born 2016), Alonzo Leon (born 2018), Alana Lauren (born 2020), and Astro Phoenix (born 2022). In January 2022, Iya, Drew, and their three children all tested positive for COVID-19.

Iya's Career in Entertainment

Iya Villania's first TV appearance in the Philippines was in 2003. She was on the IBC show "Game Channel." Soon, GMA Network noticed her talent. They cast her in the drama Walang Hanggan. She also played Sydney Torres in the popular teen series Click.

In 2004, Iya moved to ABS-CBN, another big TV network. She became one of the new VJs for their music channel Myx. She worked there for 10 years. She also regularly appeared on the variety show ASAP. Iya made her first movie in 2004, called "A Beautiful Life." She also appeared in the historical film Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita that same year.

Iya hosted many shows on ABS-CBN. These included the game show Wowowee from 2005 to 2006. She also hosted the dance competition U Can Dance in 2006 and 2007. In 2011, she hosted the reality show I Dare You. She was also a host on the morning show Umagang Kay Ganda for two years. From 2006 to 2012, Iya hosted the lifestyle program Us Girls on Studio 23. In 2008, she released her first music album, Finally!, with Viva Records.

In October 2014, Iya signed a new contract with GMA Network. This marked her return to GMA after 10 years with ABS-CBN. She became part of the variety show Sunday All Stars. In June 2015, she joined the news program 24 Oras. She became the anchor for the "Chika Minute" segment, sharing entertainment news.

Iya's Music Albums

• Finally! (2008)

Iya's Film Appearances

Iya's Television Shows

See also

In Spanish: Iya Villania para niños