New to figure competition, Monaliza was born in Subic Bay, the Philippines, on October 19, 1976. She came to the United States on February 14, 1977.

As of March 2004, she had been training for only about a year, but already she is being noticed as an extraordinarily beautiful woman and as a formidable figure contender. As you'll see from this portfolio, she has the ability to look as though she comes from any one of many places on the globe.

The first competition she ever saw was the 2003 Contra Costa. The first show she ever competed in was that year's INBF Capitol City Championships. In 2004, she will probably be competing in the Contra Costa, the California Bodybuilding and Figure Championships, the San Jose Bodybuilding and Figure Championships, and the figure component of the Mr. America competition.

Monaliza works as an event coordinator for a Bay Area real estate investment company. She is 5' 3" tall, and weighs 122 in off-season and 113 for competition. Her main hobby is running, and she has competed in several marathons. Her inspiration comes from a slogan she saw on the back of the shirt of a 62-year-old man competing in a marathon: "Pain is nothing compared to the emptiness of quitting."