Swirtty Mae Nibley is better known by her screen name Sophia Montecarlo. She used to be a contestant on the reality television show Born Diva. She represented Philippines and won several gold and silver medals for the World Championship of Performing Arts in 2010. Winner of Kumoricon Idol in November 2019. Due to pandemic she holds the title of Kumoricon Idol title for 2 years in a row.

Sophia Montecarlo
Birth nameSwirtty Mae Nibley
Also known asSophia, Swirtty, Trinity's Songbird, The Dazzling Diva
Born (1986-03-01) March 1, 1986 (age 38)
Malate, Manila, Philippines
GenresPop, Latin, Alternative
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Actress
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2004–present
LabelsStar Records (2004–2005)
Vocal Sync (2011–2012)
Websitesophiamontecarlo.com

Early life

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Swirtty was born in Echelon Tower Malate, Manila to Aladino and Melinda Nibley and lived most of her life in Quezon City.[1] Nibley is the only child of Aladino and Melinda. She has a very diverse background, her family hails from a multiracial clan, she's half Filipino, part Japanese, Vietnamese, Scottish, Spanish, and White American. Her grandfather is Scottish-American and her grandmother is Filipino, Spanish and Vietnamese. She was raised as a Roman Catholic. Her father was such a big fan of Vilma Santos that he named his only child after the star mayor's son Luis Manzano (also known as Lucky Manzano); she was baptized Swirtty Mae Nibley. Her father must have been totally star-struck as he trained his daughter to sing, starting at age 3. Swirtty's parents separated when she was three, however, they remained on good terms, after which she was raised by her father and grandfather.

During her childhood, Swirtty performed at Manila Hotel, Manila Pavilion and Holiday Inn Manila. While at Trinity High School, she was a Rotary Club member. When Nibley was in high school, she and her father Aladino traveled to Tutuban Center every Tuesday and Thursday. She was cast in CU@E ETV39. She joined the television series until its cancellation in 2001. She graduated from Trinity High School in 2003.

The youngest and the 6th grand finalist of the Born Diva TV series,[2] said she could sing as many as 20 songs every day when she reached her teens. She pursued her college at Trinity University of Asia and finish Mass Communication major in Broadcast Journalism. While studying she also worked part-time at Trinity as a student assistant.

Personal life and career

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Personal life

Senator Manny Pacquiao, Hon. Banal, Jorge "Bolet, Hon. Belmonte, Feliciano Jr. R. and other Congressmen recognize and congratulate Swirtty in The Sandiganbayan; a special appellate collegial court in the Philippines. On occasion when she brought home awards from WCOPA.

Born Diva performances

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Week # Song choice Original artist Result
Top 16 "Halik" Aegis Safe
Top 8 "Reason to go on" Sophia Montecarlo Safe
Top 7 "Love Takes Time" Mariah Carey Safe
Top 6 "Objection (Tango)" Shakira Eliminated
Grand Final "The Journey" Lea Salonga Guest

Discography

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Album

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  • Born Diva
    • Reason To Go On by: Vehnee Saturno
    • Released: December 20, 2005 (U.S.)

Single release

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"Find Me"

  • Find Me by: Jonbudz Rocio
  • Released:
    June 1, 2011 (U.S.)

World Championship of Performing Arts

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In 2010[3] Sophia was chosen as one of the representatives of the Philippine Team for the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA),[4] where she competed for the senior division. Her awards are as follows:

  • SILVER – Female Vocal Contemporary – 18–24
  • SILVER – Female Vocal Latin – 18–24
  • SILVER – Female Vocal Open – 18–24
  • BRONZE – Female Vocal Rock – 18–24

Charity work

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In December 2011, Nibley performed with De La Salle University students and donated the pledge money they collected to the Benefit of Sendong survivors. She is active in helping with a non-profit organization for seniors and people with disabilities by providing an affordable, personal, volunteer-based grocery shopping.

Year Title Venue Country
2011 Bb. Caloocan (Judge) Caloocan City   Philippines
Find Me Single Released DWIZ
2012 Rachell Allen (Guest) with Miguel Mendoza Quezon City
New You Magazine Special Featured Metro Manila
2014–2017 FrightTown Moda Center   United States
2016 El Grito De Independencia Moda Center
2016 82nd Avenue of Roses Eastport Plaza
2015–present Jade International Night Market Jade District

Awards

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  • 2000 – Manila News Star Ang Sandigan Ng Bayan : The Outstanding Performer of the Year
  • 2004 – Dazzling Diva of ABS-CBN Born Diva
  • 2009 – Studio 23 Myx Why Men Love Whisper : Top 3 Best Photo story for the month of April & Top 2 grandfinalist
  • 2010 – WCOPA (World Championships of Performing Arts) Medalist
  • 2010 – Featured Global Pinoy on The Filipino Channel of ABS-CBN
  • 2010 – Filipino-American Vocal Arts Online Music : Best Rock Solo Vocalist
  • 2010 – Trinity University of Asia – Most Outstanding Student in Cultural and Performing Arts
  • 2013 – 50th Founding Anniversary Trinity University of Asia : Special Citation
  • 2014 – 10th Anniversary Fright Town : Special Citation
  • 2016 – Trio Club : 2nd runner up
  • 2019 – Kumoricon Idol : Champion
  • 2021 – Store to Door June Volunteer Spotlight

Filmography

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Television and Shows

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Year Title Role Network
1997 Birit Baby Swirtty Mae Nibley GMA Network
1999–2001 CU@E ETV 39 Santina People's Television Network
2004 MTV Supahstar Swirtty Mae Nibley MTV Philippines
2004 All Star K! Swirtty Mae Nibley ABS-CBN
2004 Born Diva Sophia Montecarlo ABS-CBN
2004 Breakfast (TV series) Sophia Montecarlo Studio 23
2004 Homeboy (TV show) Sophia Montecarlo ABS-CBN
2004 Magandang Tanghali Bayan Sophia Montecarlo ABS-CBN
2005 Chowtime Na! Sophia Montecarlo IBC
2005 Wowowee Sophia Montecarlo ABS-CBN
2004–2005 ASAP Mania Sophia Montecarlo ABS-CBN
2010 Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman Swirtty Mae Nibley GMA Network
2011 Why Men Love Whisper Swirtty Mae Nibley MYX
2011 The Filipino Channel Swirtty Mae Nibley ABS-CBN
2012 Wil Time Bigtime Swirtty Mae Nibley TV5

Movies

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Year Title Role Director Notes
2016 Best Fake Friends Club Girl Paul Kampf The first film under the Kampf-Radar partnership is "Homecoming," a dark comedy written by Sarah Hehman and Christi Sperry.
2017 Zombie Day Apocalypse Fleeing Citizen George C. Romero

Zombie Day Apocalypse, to be held on Labor Day during the 2015 Portland Film Festival, which will take place September 1–7, will attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for most extras in a short film.

2018 Interconnect Woman in Bar Nivi Singh

Interconnect tells the story of Bela, a garment worker in Bangladesh, while dreaming of an education for her daughter and a better life for her family. On the opposite side of the world, Scott works in American retail fashion industry and travels the globe in search of suppliers. After years of putting pressure on offshore manufacturers while driving company profits higher, Scott finds himself in crisis after tragedy strikes. Based on true events.

2019 The Quiet Crowd Art Critic David Hayden

Sophie, a PSU art student, has been killed in her apartment, and the crime scene has been staged like a living art piece. All around her are clues of her time in the quiet crowd.

2020 Inspiration Road Churchgoer Rob Nelson

Coming-of-age road trip buddy story canvassing the great USA.

References

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Note: All citations to magazine articles lead to a website where scans of these magazines can be viewed

  1. ^ [1] ManilaBulletin.com Retrieved on October 12, 2004.
  2. ^ [2] ManilaBulletin.com Retrieved on June 10, 2011.
  3. ^ [3] Flippish.com Retrieved on August 20, 2010.
  4. ^ "Artists Spotlight – Filipino-American Vocal Arts". Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011. Filipinoamericanvocalarts.com Retrieved on January 14, 2011.
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