Sonya Balmores (born June 23, 1986) is an American actress, model, and surfer from Kalaheo, Hawaii who also competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

Early life and education

Balmores was born to a Filipino father and a mother of Irish and Native American descent. She attended Kalaheo Elementary School and graduated from Kauai High School. She was a visual communications student at Hawaii Pacific University.

Modeling career

Balmores won the Miss Hawaii Teen USA title on May 16, 2004 at the Waikiki Sheraton Resort. Balmores represented Hawaii in the Miss Teen USA 2004 pageant held in Palm Springs, California on August 6, 2004. She placed first runner-up in the pageant, which was won by Miss Louisiana Teen USA Shelley Hennig. This was Hawaii's highest placement in the pageant since Kelly Hu won in 1985. In 2005, Balmores appeared on the covers of Women's Health, Outside and Foam magazines.

Acting career

Balmores played the series regular role of Kai Kealoha in Beyond the Break on The N, a series that was initially given the tentative title Boarding School. In 2011, she portrayed the main antagonist, Malina Birch, in the biographical drama film Soul Surfer. In 2014, Balmores guest-starred in an episode of Hawaii Five-0 titled "Kanalu Hope Loa" ("The Last Break") as Alana Duncan, a tour bus robber. She joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2017, playing Auran in the television series Inhumans. In 2022, Balmores appeared in the historical drama series The Chosen portraying the character Fatiyah.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video game