Kyla’s real name is Melanie Hernandez Alvarez, who was born on January 5, 1981, in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. She is popularly called the Philippines’ R & B and Soul Princess. Kyla is also known as a Filipina singer, songwriter, composer, producer, TV personality and actress. She plays the piano. She developed her love for singing because of her parents listening affinity to artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and soon enough Kyla started to sing in any opportunity possible. She was barely 10 years old when she started joining singing contests such as “Tanghalan Ng Kampeon,” in DZRH and “Hamon sa Kampeon,” which she won in 1991. Kyla had her secondary education at San Sebastian College-Recoletos and graduated in Philippine Christian University in a degree in Bachelor Science in Mass Communication. Kyla’s father is a lawyer and she has three siblings.
It was former director Al Quinn who saw the potentials in her and convinced her to join “That’s Entertainment,” a popular show showcasing the talents of the younger generations. She was still using her real name Melanie as her screen name back then. The rest was of course history, because Kyla rose and had a successful singing career with plenty of awards, albums, and singles to her name. “Hanggang Ngayon” was a hit music video wherein she was given the MTV Viewers Choice at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2001. She was back then the only Filipina who had received the prestigious award together with Eraserheads and Parokya ni Edgar.
Later in her career, she met and fell in love with Rich Alvarez, one of the basketball players in the PBA and she still maintained her low profile life and privacy despite of her popularity. It was in the year 2011 when they announced their engagement at “Party Pilipinas,” in which she is a regular cast. She then announced that the wedding will be on November 28, 2011 which will be held at Sanctuario de San Antonio in Makati City, Philippines. It was a well-attended ceremony, with almost the big names in the TV networks and big stars and singers in the industry.
It was on October 2012, that Kyla announced her pregnancy welcoming a new blessing to her married life. She continued her singing career until she publicly took a leave last February 2013 and will eventually return after she gives birth.
Kyla had also represented Philippines in 1995 at the Fourth Yamaha Msic Quest held in Japan, wherein she sang Vehnee Saturno’s “Only World.” She had also brought a trophy in the Metropop Young Singer’s Competition as a third placer. Kyla had recorded songs like “I Wish You Love,” and another song , “Kung Magkikita Tayo Muli.” In 2000, she once again joined the Metropop Song Festival wherein she eventually signed a contract as a recording artist of EMI’s. It was EMI Philippines who gave her the screen name ‘Kyla,” which means princess. Today, Kyla cannot ask for more, because the success she is getting in her singing career and the awards she had received can only talk how great a singer she is.
