Yasmien Kurdi

Yasmien Yuson Kurdi (born January 25, 1989) is a Filipino singer and actress. She was one of the Final Four in the first season of StarStruck, a reality-based talent search show of GMA Network in the Philippines, but she lost to Jennylyn Mercado and finished as first runner up. Her biggest break as an actress was in 2006 in the role of Charming, the ugly daughter of Bakekang in 2006 Bakekang TV Series.

Biography

Early life

Kurdi was born in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines, of Filipino, Chinese, French, Lebanese and Kurdish descent, to Miriam Ong-Yuson and Mike Kurdi. During her childhood, she had spent most of her life in the Middle East because her father worked there. After her parents separated, Yasmien and her mother returned to the Philippines.

Kurdi's name should had been spelled "Yasmine" but her mother mistakenly wrote it as "Yasmien" after her delivery in the hospital. This is reflected in her birth certificate.

She studied at New Era University and was reported to be in the top 10 of her class. She is a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo and a known vegetarian.

Acting and singing career

Kurdi started competing in singing competitions at the age of three. At the age of seven in Kuwait, she performed monologue acting and played the role of Maria Clara in a zarzuela adaptation of Noli Me Tangere that was hosted by the Kuwaiti-Filipino community in celebration of Philippine Independence Day. And her idol actress Sharon Cuneta, Anne Curtis and Vilma Santos

She did modeling before applying to GMA Network's StarStruck in 2003, and made it to second place in the female category. After a stint in StarStruck, she appeared in Click and SOP Gigsters, then appeared in various movies including So... Happy Together, Aishite Imasu (Mahal kita) 1941, Lovestruck, and Happily Ever After.

In 2005, she released her debut album entitled In The Name of Love through GMA Records and her carrier single "I Know" (used as a soundtrack of Korean teledrama "Sweet 18") won the Viewer's Choice For Song of the Year in the 2005 SOP Music Awards.

Also in 2005, one of her biggest projects was playing the role of Mira in Encantadia.

On September 11, 2006 Bakekang began to air. Yasmien plays the role of Bakekang's ugly Daughter, Charming.

On November 29, 2006 Yasmien became one of the stars of the film Pitong Dalagita where she played a lesbian. She is one of the seven girls who committed suicide at the same time.

On March 12, 2007 Yasmien became the voice actress to the character Rukia Kuchiki in the animé Bleach.

In May 21, 2007 Yasmien starred in Pati Ba Pintig ng Puso with JC de Vera. Yasmien plays as Jenna, a maid who has an eye on her employer's grandson. On its press conference, GMA Network crown her as its GMA Drama Princess. . On September 10, 2007 Yasmien will star again with JC de Vera in Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig, which originally stars Sharon Cuneta in 1987. After their huge success as loveteam in Pati Ba Pintig Ng Puso? GMA trusted them both to star in the said Sine Novela.

Kurdi a strict vegitarian and is also part of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia-Pacific’s television commercial to promote vegetarianism. Thats why on November 9 2007 Kurdi posed inside a cage while holding a sign that said: "Liberate your diet. Go vegetarian."

In the 1st quarter of 2008, Yasmien will star on her first Primetime Show, Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita.

Awards

• QTV PinakaBONGGANG STARS of 2007 Top8
• SOP Music Video Awards 2007 Best Editing for Candlelight Romance Music Video
• SOP Music Video Awards 2007 Best Texters Choice Award "Candlelight Romance"
• FHM Philippines 2007 Rank 26
• Myx Music Awards 2006 Best New Artist
• FHM Philippines 2006 Rank 75
• Ifm Pinoy Music Awards 2006 Song Of The Year, In The Name Of Love
• Ifm Pinoy Music Awards 2006 Breakthrough Singer Of The Year
• SOP Music Awards 2005 Song of the Year
• FHM Philippines 2005 Rank 42
• 36th Annual Guillermo Mendoza Award Most Promising Female Singer
• FHM Philippines 2004 rank 10

Titles

• Starstruck 1st Princess
• Philippines Pop Sweetheart
• GMA's Drama Princess

Filmography

Films

Year	Title	Role
2007	Bahay Kubo	Dahlia
2006	Pitong Dalagita	Mayo
2005	Shake, Rattle and Roll 2k5	Laila
2005	Lovestruck	Jojo
2005	Happily Ever After	Jenny
2004	Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita	Senyang
2004	So Happy Together	Raphie

Television shows

Year	Title	Role
2008	Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita	Salve
2007	Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig	Lupe Velez
2007	Pati Ba Pintig Ng Puso	Jenna
2007	Bitoy's Funniest Videos	Kikay Yasmien (herself)
2007	Bleach	Rukia Kuchiki (Voice only)
2006	Bakekang	Charming/Lukring/Karisma
2005	Fans Kita	Herself/Host
2005 - 2007	Hokus Pokus	Jackie
2005	Now And Forever Tinig	Victoria/Ikay
2005	Encantadia	Mira
2005	Love To Love (Season 6): WISH UPON A JAR	Neneng
2004	Joyride	Rene/Irene
2004	Click	Leilani
2004	Click Barkada hunt	Herself/Host
2004	SOP Gigsters	Herself/Performer
2004 - present	SOP Rules	Herself/Performer
2004	Starstruck Stage 1: LIVE	Herself/Performer
2004	Stage 1: The StarStruck Playhouse
2004	Starstruck	Survivor/First Princess

Discography

Albums

• In the Name of Love (2005) certified platinum 30,000 units sold
• Love Is All I Need (May 2007)

Track List: In The Name Of Love

• 1. I Know
• 2. In the Name of Love
• 3. Enjoy and Ride
• 4. Mamahalin
• 5. Patuloy Pa Rin
• 6. Umaambisyon
• 7. Kunwari Lang Ba
• 8. Sa Akin Lang Sana
• 9. Ikaw Pa Rin Sa Akin
• 10. Manumbalik Ka

Track list: Love Is All I Need

• 1. Kisapmata
• 2. Give Me A Sign
• 3. Love Is All I Need
• 4. Even If
• 5. Take It Or Leave It
• 6. Wishing Well
• 7. One Day
• 8. Hayaan Mo Na
• 9. Goodbye
• 10. Candlelight Romance
• 11. Take It Or Leave It (I Know mix)
• 12. Love Is All I Need (acoustic)
• 13. Kisapmata (backing track)

Other Appearances

• Kapuso sa Pasko (2005)
  • It's Just Another New Year's Eve
• Music from the Motion Picture Lovestruck (2005)
  • I Know
• Kahimig Videoke Series Vol.1 (2005)
  • I Know
• Mga Awit Mula Sa Puso (2005)
  • I Know
• Kahimig Videoke Series Vol.2 (2006)
  • In The Name Of Love
  • Umaambisyon
• Mga Awit Ng Kapuso (2007)
  • Pati Ba Pintig Ng Puso
  • Ngayong Wala Ka Na
• Isang Kinabukasan (2007)
  • Isang Kinabukasan

Songs

SINGLES

In The Name Of Love

• "I Know" (2005) 1st single from her first album "In The Name Of Love"
• "In The Name Of Love" (2005) 2nd single from her first album "In The Name Of Love"
• "Umaambisyon" (2006) 3rd single from her first album "In The Name Of Love"
• "Patuloy Pa Rin" (2006) 4th single from her first album "In The Name Of Love"

Love Is All I Need

• "Kisapmata" (2007)1st single from her second album "Love Is All I Need"
• "Love Is All I Need" (2007) 2nd single from her second album "Love Is All I Need"
• "Candlelight Romance" (2007) SOP Music Video Awards But Not Officially Single.
• "Take It Or Leave It" (2008) 3rd single from her second album "Love Is All I Need"

Others

• "Tinig" (2005) OST Of Now and Forever Present "TINIG"
• "Ngayong Wala Ka Na" (2007) Yasmien Sung In Bakekang.
• "Kanina" (2007) Yasmien Feat. Marky Cielo, They Sung In Starstruck 4
• "Hanggang Wakas" (2007) Yasmien Sung In Bakekang
• "Pati Ba Pintig Ng Puso" (2007) OST of Sine Novela Present "Pati Ba Pintig Ng Puso"
• "Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig" (2007) OST of Sine Novela Present "Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig"

External links

• Yasmien Kurdi's profile on iGMA.tv
• Yasmien Kurdi's Official Website