Yasmien Yuson Kurdi-Soldevilla (Tagalog:[ˈjasminˈkəɹdi]; born January 25, 1989)[1][2] is a Filipino singer, actress and model. She was one of the Final Four in the first season of StarStruck, a reality-based talent search show by GMA Network in the Philippines, where she finished as first runner-up. Kurdi graduated magnacum laude from Arellano University with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in political science. She is currently an exclusive artist of GMA Network.
As a singer, Kurdi released two studio albums. Her first album, In the Name of Love was released in 2006 and attained platinum status while in 2007, her second album, Love Is All I Need, reached gold status.
2003–2006: Starstruck, career beginnings, and In The Name of Love
Her early career included modeling for Candy, Seventeen, and MOD magazine. She was one of the finalists in ABS-CBN's ASAP Pond's Soft Skin Search, but lost to the Jaboom twins.
2007–2011: Breakthrough and Love Is All I Need
In May 2007, after her success in the Bakekang series as "Charming", Kurdi starred in Pati Ba Pintig ng Puso with JC de Vera. She played Jenna, a maid who has an eye on her employer's grandson. In its press conference, GMA Network crowned her as its GMA Drama Princess.[7] On September 10, 2007, Kurdi starred again with JC de Vera in Pasan Ko ang Daigdig, which originally starred Sharon Cuneta in 1987. After their huge success as a loveteam in Pati Ba Pintig ng Puso, GMA cast them both in Sine Novela.[7]
The network gave them an adaptation of another Sharon Cuneta movie, Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita.[7] The series crushed its rival My Girl. In the last quarter of 2008, Kurdi led the remake of Saan Darating ang Umaga?[7] which garnered prime time ratings, though it aired in the afternoon. The Sine Novela is a top rater and the all-time highest in national TV ratings, never beaten by Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? which held the Mega Manila only.
In 2010, Kurdi was cast in her first role as a villain, on the GMA Network fairy tale television series Grazilda.[7]
2011–2017: Rising popularity
In 2011, Kurdi joined the epic series Amaya for a multi-episode guest arc playing Apila, she then quit show business to concentrate on her college education and raising a family, coming back in 2013 after a two-year hiatus. Recently, she starred in the hit afternoon drama series Sa Piling ni Nanay where she played a surrogate mother.
2018: Critical acclaim
In 2018, after 1 year on hiatus, she made her TV comeback in Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka. Through the show, Kurdi bagged the Best Drama Actress award at the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for TV.
Personal life
In 2013, Kurdi revealed to Philippine Entertainment Portal that she married pilot Rey Soldevilla on January 25, 2012, on her 23rd birthday. On November 22, 2012, she gave birth to their first daughter, Ayesha Zara.[8] On April 28, 2024, Kurdi welcomed their second daughter, Raya Layla, via caesarean section since her umbilical scar from her first birth was still thin and the infant had a cord coil.[9]
Alleged bullying of her eldest daughter at Colegio San Agustin – Makati came to light on December 10, 2024, when Kurdi claimed on Instagram that seven of Ayesha’s classmates ganged her up on by blocking her exit from a room. They even refused her food, while other students harassed her through videography, causing her paranoia and anxiety sufferings.[10] The incident was met with widespread comment on Philippine social media, denouncing the gaslighting and online hate group against the Kurdi-Soldevilla family for years. Kurdi also posted Ayesha's cut-up Polaroidphoto on her desk.[11] On December 17, lawyers representing the Colegio released a statement denying Kurdi's accusations.[12]
Health
In early 2014, Kurdi was diagnosed with a cyst on her vocal folds, which explained hoarseness in her voice. She was scheduled for surgery in July 2014 to remove the cyst. According to her doctor, there was no guarantee that her voice would fully recover after the operation.[13][14]
In 2005, Kurdi released her first album, In the Name of Love, under GMA Records. She released her first single, "I Know" (which was used as a Filipino soundtrack of the Korean teledrama Sweet 18 aired by GMA), followed by "In the Name of Love" and "Umaambisyon" in the same year. In 2007 she released her second album, Love Is All I Need, which included the singles "Candlelight Romance", "Goodbye", "Kisapmata", "One Day", "Take It or Leave It", "Even If" and "Love Is All I Need".
