Kiray

Kiray Celis, born Johanna Ismael Celis on July 29, 1995, is a Filipino actress, comedian, and entrepreneur recognized for her versatile performances in film, television, and comedy sketches.^[1] She began her career as a child star at age three, winning a beauty contest called Muntíng Miss U on the variety show Magandang Tanghali Bayan, which led to her joining the cast of the children's comedy program Goin' Bulilit from 2005 to 2009, where she gained early fame for her humorous roles.^[2][3] Celis transitioned to more dramatic roles in her teens, notably portraying Desiree Francisco in the ABS-CBN teleserye Mara Clara (2010) and appearing in films like Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme (2012) and Female, Male, Gay, Lesbian (2013), showcasing her range from comedy to supporting dramatic parts.^[4][1] In recent years, she has earned international acclaim, including the Breakthrough Performance award for her role in Malditas in Maldives at the Wu Wei Taipei International Film Festival in September 2024 and the Best Performance in a Comedy award at the Ima Wa Ima Asian International Film Festival in Osaka, Japan, in December 2024.^[5][6] Beyond acting, Celis has built a business empire as the founder of Kiray's Brands, a line of beauty and wellness supplements including collagen drinks and slimming products, launched to promote health and self-care among her audience.^[7] As of 2025, she continues to appear in GMA Network projects like Sparkle and is preparing for her wedding to fiancé Stephan Estopia, following a prenuptial photoshoot in Japan.^[8]

Early life

Family background

Johanna Ismael Celis, professionally known as Kiray Celis, was born on July 29, 1995, in the Philippines. She is the daughter of Meriam Celis, a homemaker who emphasized practical financial advice such as investing in gold during her daughter's early years, and Jonathan Celis. Celis has siblings including her sister Jhopay Celis and brother Jayson Celis, and the family maintained close-knit bonds rooted in Filipino values of mutual support and resilience.^[9] Raised in a middle-class household, Celis experienced early financial challenges, living in a modest one-bedroom home, which fostered a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility from a young age. She often took on a supportive role within the family, prioritizing their needs even as a child, which shaped her motivations and drive to contribute financially as soon as possible. These experiences in a modest urban Filipino setting underscored the importance of perseverance and family unity in her formative years.^[10] In September 2023, Celis suffered a profound loss when her sister-in-law, Jhen Cabigao (wife of her brother Jayson), passed away, leaving behind a niece and nephew. Stepping up as a surrogate parental figure, Celis assumed full responsibility for their education and daily needs, extending her lifelong commitment to family support amid this tragedy. This event further highlighted her role as a pillar for her relatives, channeling her resources and efforts toward ensuring their stability and future opportunities.^[11]

Entry into entertainment

Kiray Celis, born Johanna Ismael Celis on July 29, 1995, was discovered as a child performer at the age of four in 1999 when she participated in the "Muntíng Miss U" contest, a segment of the noontime variety show Magandang Tanghali Bayan on GMA Network.^[12] This early exposure marked her initial entry into the entertainment industry, where she began performing under her real name before adopting her stage name.^[12] By 2005, at age nine, Celis made her first professional television appearances on ABS-CBN, joining the cast of the children's sketch comedy show Goin' Bulilit, which aired Sundays and featured young talents in comedic skits.^[12] That same year, she signed a management contract with Star Magic, ABS-CBN's talent agency, which provided structured opportunities for her development as a child artist through workshops and regular on-screen roles.^[12] Her experiences on Goin' Bulilit until her graduation from the show in 2009 honed her comedic timing and performance skills, establishing her as a recognizable young talent in Philippine television.^[12] Celis completed her high school education but opted not to pursue college immediately, prioritizing her career and family responsibilities as the primary breadwinner.^[13] In a 2022 interview, she explained, "Hindi pa po ako tapos. Hanggang high school lang po," adding that she chose to focus on supporting her siblings' education first: "Sa isip ko po, ako lang yung makakapagpaaral sa mga kapatid ko sa private [school] so pinatapos ko po muna sila bago po ako."^[13] She expressed plans to enroll in college once her family's financial stability is secured, stating, "Magka-college na lang ako kapag parang stable na talaga. Ngayon po kasi parang kailangan pa ako ng family ko."^[13] This decision underscored her early commitment to balancing professional growth with familial duties, supported by her family's encouragement in her showbiz pursuits.^[13]

Acting career

Child and teen roles

Kiray Celis began her acting career as a child performer with a prominent role on the ABS-CBN children's gag show Goin' Bulilit, where she served as a mainstay cast member from 2005 to 2009.^[12] At the age of 10, she showcased her comedic talents through various sketch comedy segments, often portraying quirky characters that highlighted her timing and improvisational skills, contributing to the show's popularity as a platform for young Filipino talents.^[12] Her performances in these humorous skits helped establish her as a rising child comedian, drawing on everyday scenarios and exaggerated antics to entertain family audiences. As Celis entered her early teens, she expanded into dramatic roles, marking a shift from pure comedy. In 2010, she portrayed Desiree Francisco in the ABS-CBN teleserye Mara Clara, playing Clara's scheming friend and antagonist who targeted the protagonist Mara due to class differences.^[14] This role allowed her to demonstrate dramatic range alongside comedic elements, blending menace with witty banter in ensemble scenes. She continued contributing to sketch comedy through guest appearances and specials, maintaining her humorous roots while exploring more layered characters. Celis's transition from child star to teen performer was solidified in youth-oriented productions, where she balanced comedic flair with coming-of-age narratives. She starred as a lead in the 2011 ABS-CBN series Growing Up, depicting adolescent struggles in a group of friends navigating high school life.^[12] The following year, she took on the role of Whitney Muñoz in the teen sitcom Luv U, further showcasing her versatility in romantic and situational comedy formats.^[12] During this period, her work earned recognition, including the 2008 Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation (GMMSF) Box-Office Entertainment Award for Most Popular Female Child Performer, affirming her impact as a young entertainer.^[15]

Adult roles and network transitions

During her later years at ABS-CBN, Celis took on more mature supporting roles, including portraying Mitch, a vengeful friend in interpersonal conflicts, in the 2016 action-drama series FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.^[16] This appearance demonstrated her ability to handle intense emotional arcs in a high-stakes genre. Following her departure from ABS-CBN after nearly two decades, Kiray Celis signed an exclusive contract with GMA Network's Artist Center (later rebranded as Sparkle) on December 20, 2018, marking a significant pivot in her professional trajectory toward more diverse adult-oriented projects.^[17] This move allowed her to explore mature characterizations beyond her established comedic persona. Under GMA and Sparkle, Celis's portfolio expanded into varied formats, including comedic films that highlighted her timing and wit in adult contexts. Her role as Padma in the 2023 ensemble comedy Malditas in Maldives, where she played one of three rival vloggers stranded on an island, earned acclaim for blending humor with relational dynamics, securing her the Breakthrough Performance award at the 2024 Wu Wei Taipei International Film Festival and Best Performance in a Comedy at the Ima Wa Ima Asian International Film Festival.^[18][19] This project exemplified her continued strength in comedy while incorporating elements of self-discovery typical of mature leads. On television, she transitioned into fantasy with the role of Marites in the 2024 primetime series My Guardian Alien, a supernatural drama involving alien guardians and family secrets, allowing her to delve into whimsical yet emotionally layered supporting parts.^[20] Additionally, appearances in romance-infused episodes of anthology series like Dear Uge further broadened her range, moving from lighthearted teen sketches to narratives exploring adult vulnerabilities and partnerships.^[21] Critics and award bodies have noted Celis's growth in these mature performances, praising her versatility in shifting from exaggerated comedic tropes—rooted in her early Goin' Bulilit days—to nuanced portrayals that convey empathy and complexity, as seen in the relational tensions of Malditas in Maldives and the fantastical intrigue of My Guardian Alien. Her work has been highlighted for maturing her on-screen presence, with festival recognitions underscoring a reception that values her evolution into a multifaceted actress capable of anchoring ensemble dynamics across genres.^[20][18] The 2020–2021 period brought substantial challenges to the Philippine entertainment industry due to COVID-19 lockdowns, which suspended on-set productions nationwide from March 2020 and prompted stricter health protocols upon resumption, altering taping schedules and limiting physical roles for many actors. For Celis, already established at GMA, this disruption interrupted momentum from ongoing projects, which adapted with reduced casts and virtual elements, but ultimately shifted industry focus toward safer, shorter-form content. As of 2025, she continues to appear in GMA Network projects like Sparkle.^[8]

Business ventures

Food and restaurant endeavors

In 2018, at the age of 22, Kiray Celis launched her first entrepreneurial venture, Chicks and Fins, a casual dining restaurant specializing in chicken wings. The initial branch opened on May 18 in Mendiola, Manila, behind San Beda College, strategically targeting the area's large student population with its accessible location.^[22][23] The business model centered on providing affordable, Filipino-style chicken wings prepared in multiple flavors, such as classic buffalo and volcano, alongside complementary items like fries, siomai, and flavored nachos. Prices were kept budget-friendly to appeal to young diners, with individual servings starting at P49 for wings and P89 for combo baskets, while weekend promotions offered unlimited wings, siomai, rice, and nachos for P245 per person. Early operations involved hands-on efforts from Celis, who scouted the Mendiola site for its high foot traffic near universities, though the venture faced typical startup hurdles like building a customer base in a competitive urban food scene.^[22][24][25] By 2019, the restaurant expanded to additional branches within Manila, including sites on P. Noval Street and Doña Carmen in San Miguel, enhancing its reach in the metropolitan area. Operations adapted to modern demands, incorporating online delivery platforms by 2020 to sustain growth amid shifting consumer habits. Celis maintained significant personal involvement as the primary owner, promoting the brand through social media and occasional visits, while balancing it with her ongoing acting commitments in the entertainment industry.^[26][27][28]

Beauty and wellness products

In early 2025, Kiray Celis expanded her entrepreneurial portfolio by launching her own line of beauty and wellness products under Kiray's Brands, focusing on dietary supplements designed to support weight management, skin health, and overall vitality. The initiative included the introduction of Hot Babe Coffee, a slimming dietary supplement formulated as a low-calorie coffee blend using stevia as a natural sweetener and enriched with ingredients like fenugreek, dandelion, ginseng, psyllium husk, and L-carnitine to promote metabolism and fat burning. Complementing this were Hello Bloom Juice variants—such as Glow for skin brightening with reduced L-glutathione, Gleam for nourishment, and Glam for anti-aging effects—and Dayli Supplements, featuring products like apple cider vinegar capsules for digestion, S-acetyl glutathione for antioxidant support, hydrolyzed marine collagen for skin elasticity, and sodium ascorbate with zinc for immune and vitamin C benefits. These launches, officially unveiled on January 27, 2025, in Quezon City, built on Celis's prior experience in live-stream selling of other products, including food items, and emphasized FDA-approved, Halal-certified formulations backed by clinical studies.^[29][30][31] The products quickly gained traction through targeted social media marketing, including Instagram posts, TikTok shops, and live-selling sessions that highlighted their accessibility for daily Filipino wellness routines. Celis, serving as CEO of Hot Babe, Hello Bloom, and Dayli, personally endorsed the items, sharing her own usage to demonstrate benefits like sustained energy and radiant skin. A grand launch event for Dayli Supplements on April 25, 2025, at Plaza Ibarra in Quezon City further amplified visibility, attended by family, friends, and media to celebrate both the brand and Celis's personal milestones. This digital-first approach allowed for rapid scalability, with products available exclusively online to reach a broad audience seeking convenient health solutions.^[29][30][32] Sales performance underscored the venture's success, with her online selling efforts generating PHP 8.3 million in revenue by February 2025 since starting her entrepreneurial journey in early 2024, including a standout single-day record of PHP 3 million during a live-selling event in September 2025—outpacing Celis's earnings from acting. Her fiancé, Stephan Estopia, played a pivotal role in encouraging this expansion, urging her to develop and own her product lines after observing her proficiency in selling others' goods, which provided the motivation to transition from reseller to creator. As CEO, Celis has prioritized quality and innovation, teasing future additions like a skincare line while managing operations to support her team and family responsibilities. This achievement not only recovered her initial investment swiftly but also positioned Kiray's Brands as a prominent player in the Philippine wellness market. In November 2025, the brand expanded further with the launch of Hot Babe Green, a new dietary supplement variant, and Skin Vibe, a skincare-focused line, available through online platforms.^{[29][33][34][35]}

Personal life

Relationships and engagement

Kiray Celis had a previous long-term relationship that ended in 2019 following a breakup, after which she began dating her current partner.^[36] In late 2019, Celis went public with her relationship with non-showbiz partner Stephan Estopia, whom she had known for years prior; the couple marked their fifth anniversary in December 2024 and have emphasized maintaining privacy in their personal lives despite media interest.^[37][38] Their bond, which began when both were navigating personal challenges, culminated in an engagement on April 21, 2025, during an intimate beach proposal shared via social media.^[39][40] The engagement received widespread media coverage, with outlets highlighting the couple's low-key romance and Celis's decision to share select moments publicly while guarding their privacy.^[41] In November 2025, ahead of their undisclosed wedding date, Celis and Estopia released prenuptial photos from a romantic shoot in Japan, featuring themes of love and urban elegance against backdrops like Tokyo's bustling streets.^[42][8] On November 17, 2025, the couple held a joint bridal shower and stag party to celebrate their upcoming wedding.^[43]

Family responsibilities

Following the death of her sister-in-law Jhen in September 2023, Kiray Celis assumed financial responsibility for her late sibling's two young children, vowing to care for them as her own. In an emotional social media post shortly after the loss, Celis expressed her commitment, stating, "Ako na bahala sa mga anak mo," and highlighting the challenges of grieving while stepping into a provider role for her niece and nephew.^[44] By early 2025, she had expanded this support to cover their education, describing it as a significant obligation that motivated her entrepreneurial pursuits.^[45] Celis's family obligations extend beyond her immediate relatives, as she provides financial assistance to her siblings and funds schooling for multiple nieces and nephews. This broader role as a family provider stems from her upbringing in a close-knit household, where mutual support shaped her drive to succeed in entertainment and business. In a March 2025 interview, she credited her family as the primary inspiration for launching ventures like live selling and product lines, noting that earnings from these endeavors directly alleviate familial burdens.^[46] In 2025 interviews, Celis openly discussed the emotional and logistical strains of balancing these responsibilities with her career, portraying herself as the family's anchor amid ongoing challenges. During an August conversation with the Department of Trade and Industry, she emphasized using business income to ensure educational opportunities for her extended family, underscoring her five-year vision centered on stability for them. She also shared how these duties influence her professional choices, prioritizing flexible income streams to sustain her role without compromising her commitments.^[47][48]

Filmography

Television

Kiray Celis's television career spans multiple networks and genres, from sketch comedy to drama series, with appearances dating back to her childhood. The following is a chronological catalog of her credited television roles:

• Goin' Bulilit (2005–2009, ABS-CBN) as various characters.
• Love Spell (2006, ABS-CBN) as Lisa in "Cindy-rella".
• Komiks (2006, ABS-CBN) as Maya in "Si Piolo at Lorelei" and Bampy.
• Kokey (2007, ABS-CBN) as young Bambam.
• Varga (2008, GMA Network) as Cherry Lou.
• Mara Clara (2010, ABS-CBN) as Desiree Francisco.
• Kokey @ Ayos! (2010–2011, ABS-CBN) as young Bam-Bam.
• 100 Days to Heaven (2011, ABS-CBN) as young Girlie.
• Growing Up (2011, ABS-CBN) as Brigette Honey Gunay / "Britney".
• Regal Shocker (2011, ABS-CBN) as Ella.
• Toda Max (2011–2012, ABS-CBN) as Jeng Jeng.
• LUV U (2011–2012, ABS-CBN) as Whitney Muñoz.
• Princess and I (2012–2013, ABS-CBN) as Janella / young Hae Dong.
• LUV U Season 2 (2012, ABS-CBN) as Whitney Muñoz.
• Dream Dad (2014, ABS-CBN) as Gracia Anna.
• FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (internationally known as Brothers) (2015–2016, ABS-CBN) as Mitch.^[16]
• Tadhana (2017, GMA Network) as Fiona and Tintin.
• Two Hearts (2018, GMA Network) as Anya.
• Daddy's Gurl (2018, GMA Network) as Sam (guest role).
• Love You Two (2019, GMA Network) as Darling Innocencio.
• Owe My Love (2021, GMA Network) as Evelyn Advincula / "Evs".
• Regal Studio Presents (2021, GMA Network) as Paula in "The Truth about Jane".
• Ang Babae sa Likod ng Face Mask (2022, GMA Network) as support role.
• Return to Paradise (2022, GMA Network) as Raichu.^[49]
• My Guardian Alien (2024, GMA Network) as Marites.
• Forever Young (2024, GMA Network) as Peklat (cameo).
• Prinsesa ng City Jail (2025, GMA Network) as Raichu (guest role, 2 episodes).^[50]

She has also made numerous guest appearances in anthology series such as Maalaala Mo Kaya (various episodes, 2006–2025, ABS-CBN) and Tadhana (2017, GMA Network) as Fiona and Tintin.^[4]

Film

Awards and nominations

Television awards

Kiray Celis received early recognition for her television performances as a child actress, particularly through her role in the ABS-CBN sketch comedy series Goin' Bulilit. In 2008, she was awarded the Most Popular Female Child Performer at the 38th Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation (GMMSF) Box-Office Entertainment Awards, honoring her rising popularity in the industry.^[51] Her work in other television programs, such as the youth-oriented series Luv U (2012–2016), contributed to the show's win for Best Youth-Oriented Program at the PMPC Star Awards for Television in 2012, though individual acting honors for Celis in PMPC events remain limited in documented records.^[52] In 2024, Celis won Best Versatile Comedienne at the Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival in Japan for her performance in the GMA Network series My Guardian Alien.^[53]

Film awards

Kiray Celis has garnered international acclaim for her comedic roles in film, particularly with her performance in the 2023 comedy Malditas in the Maldives, marking a significant expansion of her recognition beyond Philippine cinema. In 2024, she secured two prestigious awards at Asian film festivals for this lead role, highlighting her breakthrough on the global stage.

Key Film Awards and Nominations

Celis's 2024 wins underscore her versatility in comedy, with Malditas in the Maldives—a film about a group of women on a chaotic vacation—earning her praise for blending humor and relatability in a lead role. These accolades follow her earlier film work in the 2010s, where she built her reputation through supporting parts in mainstream Philippine productions.