Cynthia Kristina Kurleto is an Austrian

model A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure. Models c ...

, actress, and a former

MTV VJ This is a list of people who have been VJs on MTV, the music video channel in the U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North ...

in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. She is known for being a commercial model and an FHM model in the Philippines and also for playing the role of

Cassiopea ''Cassiopea'' (upside-down jellyfish) is a genus of true jellyfish and the only members of the family Cassiopeidae. They are found in warmer coastal regions around the world, including shallow mangrove swamps, mudflats, canals, and turtle gra ...

in the hit series ''

Encantadia ''Encantadia'' is a Philippines, Filipino fantasy franchise produced and published by GMA Network. It consists of four television series that have run from 2005 to present and a single film. The first was shown in 2005 carrying the title alone ...

'' and its prequel/sequel ''

Etheria ''Etheria: Ang Ikalimang Kaharian ng Encantadia'' (International title: ''Etheria: The Fifth Kingdom of Encantadia'') is a Philippine television drama fantasy series broadcast by GMA Network. The series is the second installment of the Encantad ...

''. She was born to an Austrian father and Filipino mother.

Biography

The daughter of Faustina Verdillo and Friedrich Kurleto, following her parents' divorce, she was raised by her mother in

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

where she grew up. Cindy finished her education from elementary to college and took a Hotel and Restaurant Management course. She later became a waitress. In 2001, she left her job and decided to take a vacation in her other home country, the Philippines. She sold her car and apartment, quit her job, bought a ticket, packed one suitcase and left for the Philippines. Long after arriving, she decided to settle in Legazpi City, Albay for good. It was during her hosting stint at a local ABS-CBN show in Legazpi that she was spotted by a talent scout and offered to do modelling jobs in Manila. She shot into stardom as one of the Palmolive girls. Her first crack at showbiz was when she became a co-host to ABS-CBN's ''

Masayang Tanghali Bayan ''MTB'', fully spelled as ''Magandang Tanghali Bayan'' () and ''Masayang Tanghali Bayan'' (), and later known as ''MTB Ang Saya Saya'' ( or ), is a Philippine noontime variety show broadcast by ABS-CBN. The show aired from Mondays to Saturdays a ...

'' for more than a year. When it went off the air, she was taken in as MTV

video jockey A video jockey (abbreviated VJ or sometimes veejay) is an announcer or host who introduces music videos and live performances on commercial music television channels such as MTV, VH1, MuchMusic and Channel V. Origins The term "video jockey" come ...

. Her first movie was Jerry Lopez Sineneng's ''Ngayong Nandito Ka'' (2003) with

Kristine Hermosa Kristine Hermosa Orille-Sotto (; born September 9, 1983), professionally known by her maiden name Kristine Hermosa, is a Filipina actress. She is known for her roles in ''Pangako Sa ’Yo'' (2000–2002), ''Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas'' (2003–2004 ...

Jericho Rosales Jericho Vibar Rosales (; born September 21, 1979), also known as Echo, is a Filipino actor. He is currently a freelance actor. Primarily a film and television actor, he is known by his stage name "Echo" cousin of Jefferson C. Rosales. He beg ...

and

Onemig Bondoc Juan Miguel Rivera Bondoc (born May 12, 1977), professionally known as Onemig Bondoc, is a Filipino actor and television host. He was known for his roles in shows like '' T.G.I.S.'' and its spin-off '' Growing Up'' shown on GMA Network. He later ...

. Kurleto was declared

FHM ''FHM'' (For Him Magazine) is a British multinational men's lifestyle magazine that was published in several countries. Its master edition contained features such as the ''FHM'' 100 Sexiest Women in the World, which has featured models, actres ...

's "Sexiest Woman of the World" in 2004 after she appeared on the cover of FHM Philippines in April 2004. She became a co-host in the longest noontime variety show "Eat Bulaga!" and mainstay in Sundays' comedy show "Daddy Di Do Du". She left ''

Eat Bulaga! ''Eat Bulaga!'' (), formerly ''Eat... Bulaga!'', is a noontime Philippine television variety show broadcast by GMA Network. Produced by TAPE Inc., it is the longest running variety show in the Philippines with over 13,000 episodes. Originally ...

'' in November 2007. Her co-hosts at ''

'' supported her decision. She returned to ''Eat Bulaga!'' on March 9, 2019 as a guest player in ''Boom!'' Kurleto is now married to

Barbadian British Barbadian British people, Bajan Brits or British Barbadians, are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom whose ethnic origins lie fully or partially in the Caribbean island of Barbados. The UK is home to the second largest Barbadian-born mi ...

businessman, Daniel Joseph Navalia.

Filmography

Television shows

Films

Awards

*Ranked # 3 - FHM Philippines' 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2003 *Ranked # 2 (# 1 Philippines' Finest) - FHM Philippines' 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2004 *Ranked # 5 - FHM Philippines' 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005 *Ranked # 7 - FHM Philippines' 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006

References

External links

Cindy Kurleto's official websiteCindy Kurleto's photos on FHM.com.ph
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurleto, Cindy 1981 births Filipino television actresses Filipino television personalities Filipino female models Filipino people of Austrian descent Living people Musicians from Vienna VJs (media personalities) Filipino television variety show hosts ABS-CBN personalities GMA Network personalities