Charlene Gonzales

Charlene Mae Gonzales Bonnin-Muhlach (Tagalog: [ʃaɾˈlin gɔnˈsalɛs ˈmulak]; born May 1, 1974) is a Filipino actress, media personality and beauty pageant titleholder. Gonzales won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1994 title and represented her country at the Miss Universe 1994 pageant held in Manila, where she won the Best National Costume award and was one of the Top 6 Finalists.

Charlene Gonzales
Gonzales at the Binibining Pilipinas 2008 beauty pageant
Born	Charlene Mae Gonzales Bonnin (1974-05-01) May 1, 1974 Quezon City, Philippines
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Spouse	Aga Muhlach ​ (m. 2001)​
Children	2, including Atasha
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title	Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1994
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Brown
Major competition(s)	Binibining Pilipinas 1994 (Winner – Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1994) Miss Universe 1994 (Top 6) (Best in National Costume)

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Gonzales, the birth surname or paternal family name is Bonnin, and the marital name is Muhlach.

She is also an award-winning talk show host and a commercial model.

Early and personal life

Charlene Mae Gonzales Bonnin was born to actor Bernard Bonnin and model Elvira Gonzales, on May 1, 1974. Among her siblings is actor Richard Bonnin, and her cousin is Bagets actor J.C. Bonnin. She is of Spanish ancestry and a maternal descendant of the prominent Pamintuan family of Angeles City. She attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California, finishing in 1992. She earned a degree in BS Psychology from the University of Santo Tomas.

She married Filipino actor Aga Muhlach on May 28, 2001. They have twin children born on November 5, 2001, named Andrés Antonio and Atasha Aaron.

Pageant career

Gonzales won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1994 title and represented her country at the Miss Universe 1994 pageant held in Manila, where she won the Best National Costume award and landed in the Top 6. When asked by the host about the number of islands in the Philippines, she boldly asked back, “High tide or low tide?”

Showbiz career

She hosted the dance program Eezy Dancing on ABC-5 (1997–1998) and Keep On Dancing from (1998–2001) on ABS-CBN and Viva Television Movies on Viva TV. She hosted the show, At Home Ka Dito, a Philippine lifestyle program airing on ABS-CBN. Adding to its branding as a show is the introduction of a reality TV treatment to its features, pioneering what may be a new trend—the reality TV lifestyle show.

In 1994, Gonzales got her first film role with Fernando Poe Jr. in Epimaco Velasco: NBI. She also starred in Ben Delubyo with Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. in (1998) and Resbak with Phillip Salvador (1998).

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Network
1994	Miss Universe 1994	Contestant	ABS-CBN
1995–2001	ASAP	Host
1997–1998	Eezy Dancing	Host	ABC
1997	1 for 3	Marillen	GMA Network
1998–2001	Keep on Dancing	Host	ABS-CBN
1999–2000	Oki Doki Doc
2002–2004	Feel at Home with Charlene	Host
2004–2007	At Home Ka Dito	Host
2008–2009	Proudly Filipina	Host	Q
2008	Binibining Pilipinas 2008	Host	GMA Network
2010–2013	The Buzz	Host	ABS-CBN
2011	Pinoy Explorer	Guest	TV5
2024	Da Pers Family	Charlene

Film

Year	Title	Role	Studio
1994	Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko	Perla / Pearl	Viva Films
	Epimaco Velasco: NBI	Mrs. Yolly Velasco	Viva Films FLT Films International
1995	Iligpit si Bobby Ortega: Markang Bungo 2	Carla	Viva Films
	P're Hanggang sa Huli	Jessica	Viva Films
1996	Dyesebel	Dyesebel	Viva Films
	Bilang Na ang Araw Mo	Cathy	Neo Films
	Ikaw Naman ang Iiyak	Annie Montoya	Viva Films
1997	Bobby Barbers: Parak	Virgie	Viva Films
	Bridesmaids	Laura Andrade	Viva Films
	Kadre		Premiere Productions
	Kalabog en Bosyo	Marlene	Viva Films
1998	Ben Delubyo	Karen	Neo Films RRJ Films Viva Films
1999	Resbak, Babalikan Kita	Vanessa	Seiko Films

Awards and nominations

Bb. Pilipinas and Ms. Universe awards

Year	Organization	Category	Remarks
1994	Miss Universe 1994	Herself	Top 6 Finalist (6th)
1994	Miss Universe	Best in National Costume	Won
1994	Miss Universe	Most Beautiful Hair	Won
1994	Binibining Pilipinas	Binibining Pilipinas-Universe	Won

TV awards and nominations

Year	Organization	Award	Program	Remarks
2004	18th PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Lifestyle Show Host	At Home Ka Dito (2003)	Won
2005	19th PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Lifestyle Show Host	At Home Ka Dito (2004)	Won
2007	21st PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Lifestyle Show Host	At Home Ka Dito (2006)	Nominated
2011	25th PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Female Showbiz Oriented Talk Show Host	The Buzz (2010)	Nominated
2013	27th PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Female Showbiz Oriented Talk Show Host	The Buzz (2012)	Nominated

External links

• Official Binibining Pilipinas website - Past Titleholders