Mara Lopez

Mara Isabella Lopez Yokohama (born on 20 May 1991), known as simply Mara Lopez, is a Filipina actress and surfer. She is a member of Star Magic Batch 13.

Biography

Mara Lopez was born on May 20, 1991, the daughter of beauty queen, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1982 and actress Maria Isabel Lopez with Japanese ex-husband Hiroshi Yokohama. She is the older of two siblings. Her younger brother is five years younger.

Career

Surfing

Her father Hiroshi Yokohama was the one who taught Mara how to surf. She learned how to surf at age 6 in the coastal barangay of Urbiztondo in La Union.^[1] In 2002 she won the Surfing Championship-Ladies Division at 11 and became the youngest Filipina surfing champion.^[2]

Acting career

Mara's acting debut was when she appeared in an episode in GMA's Magpa-kailanman in 2003. The episode recounts her mom's life story. She played as the younger Maria Isabel (her mom).^[3]

In 2006 she was launched, along with 23 other aspiring actors and actresses, as member of Star Magic Batch 13. She then starred in ABS-CBN's Sineserye Presents: Natutulog Ba Ang Dios?. She had a small role in ABS-CBN's Star Magic Presents: Abt Ur Luv and had guest appearances in some shows in ABS-CBN. In 2002, she played the lead role in the indie film Following Rosa,^[4] a Sundance Film Festival entry.

Though she played a small role, her acting in Sineserye Presents: Natutulog Ba Ang Dios? got the attention of critics and her co-workers in the project. A viewer, on seeing Mara’s performance, commented on what a promising actress the 16-year-old was. "If she can just make the right career choices, there’s no doubt that she’ll go far in this business.'^[4]

Mara Yokohama joined in a GMA 7 Reality show, Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Doubles Showdown in November 2011.

Filmography