Sonya Balmores (born June 23, 1986) is an American actress, model, and surfer from Kalaheo, Hawaii who also competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant.[1]
Sonya Balmores | |
|---|---|
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| Born | June 23, 1986 Kalaheo, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Title | Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2004 |
| Spouse | Kanoa Chung |
Early life and education
editBalmores was born to a Filipino father and a mother of Irish and Native American descent.[2] She attended Kalaheo Elementary School and graduated from Kauai High School.[3] She was a visual communications student at Hawaii Pacific University.[1]
Modeling career
editBalmores won the Miss Hawaii Teen USA title on May 16, 2004 at the Waikiki Sheraton Resort.[4] Balmores represented Hawaii in the Miss Teen USA 2004 pageant held in Palm Springs, California on August 6, 2004. She placed first runner-up in the pageant, which was won by Miss Louisiana Teen USA Shelley Hennig.[5] This was Hawaii's highest placement in the pageant since Kelly Hu won in 1985.
In 2005, Balmores appeared on the covers of Women's Health, Outside and Foam magazines.[1]
Acting career
editBalmores played the series regular role of Kai Kealoha in Beyond the Break on The N, a series that was initially given the tentative title Boarding School.[6]
In 2011, she portrayed the main antagonist, Malina Birch, in the biographical drama film Soul Surfer.[7] In 2014, Balmores guest-starred in an episode of Hawaii Five-0 titled "Kanalu Hope Loa" ("The Last Break") as Alana Duncan, a tour bus robber. She joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2017, playing Auran in the television series Inhumans.[8]
In 2022, Balmores appeared in the historical drama series The Chosen portraying the character Fatiyah.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ride the Wake | Katelynn | Short film |
| 2011 | Soul Surfer | Malina Birch | |
| 2017 | Kuleana | Kimberly Coyle | |
| 2018 | Den of Thieves | Malia | |
| 2020 | Sidewinder | Maggie | Short film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Break | Nani | TV movie |
| 2005 | Rocky Point | Tattooed Girl | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2006–2009 | Beyond the Break | Lanikai 'Kai' Kealoha | Main role |
| 2014 | Hawaii Five-0 | Alana Duncan | Episode: "Kanalu Hope Loa" |
| 2016 | A Midsummer's Hawaiian Dream | Tanya McQueen | TV movie |
| 2016 | NCIS | Metro PD Officer Sandra Cornell | Episode: "Home of the Brave" |
| 2016 | Option Zero | Emily | TV movie |
| 2017 | Ballers | Arielle | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Inhumans | Auran | Recurring role, 8 episodes |
| 2018 | Lucifer | Wild Child | Episode: "All About Her" |
| 2019 | Roswell, New Mexico | Arizona | Season 1 Episode 9: "Songs About Texas" |
| 2019 | Magnum P.I. | Leanna Owens | Season 2 Episode 1: "Payback for Beginners" |
| 2019 | Breckman Rodeo | Kirby White | TV movie |
| 2020 | FBI: Most Wanted | Angelyne LaCroix | Season 1 Episode 4: "Caesar" |
| 2021 | I Know What You Did Last Summer | Mel Gilbert | Recurring role |
| 2022 | The Chosen | Fatiyah | 2 episodes |
Video game
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tom Clancy's The Division 2 | Alani Kelso |
References
edit- ^ a b c "When You're Hot… Sonya Balmores is definitely hot after appearing on the covers of three magazines and being cast in a new TV show". Midweek. 2005-09-14. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
- ^ "Sonya Balmores, Star of "Marvel's Inhumans," is a Confident Warrior Woman On-Screen and Off". Mochi Magazine. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ Curtis, Paul (2004-05-18). "Sonya Balmores sweeps to Miss Hawaii Teen USA title". Kauai Garden Island News. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
- ^ "Pageant title goes to HPU grad student". Hawaii Star-Bulletin. 2004-06-20. Archived from the original on 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
- ^ "Isle teen second in national pageant". Hawaii Star-Bulletin. 2004-08-07. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
- ^ Ryan, Tim (2005-10-14). "Dream set rolls in: Hawaii's newest TV series is a rare chance for many of the crew". Hawaii Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
- ^ McDonnell, Brandy (April 8, 2011). "'Soul Surfer' balances tricky aspects of reality-based, Christian-theme story". The Oklahoman.
- ^ Petski, Denise (March 3, 2017). "'Marvel's Inhumans': Eme Ikwuakor, Isabelle Cornish, Mike Moh, More Round Out Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
External links
edit- Sonya Balmores at IMDb
- Miss Teen USA official profile Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine