Photo Credit: – First Impressions
In honor of Women’s History Month, we continue to recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential immigrant and refugee women who have helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we celebrate Lea Salonga, the Tony Award-winning actress and renowned singer whose voice has left a lasting mark on musical theater.
Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga was born in February 1971 in Manila, Philippines. She began singing at the age of three under the guidance of her aunt and made her professional theater debut at seven years old in 1978. Her early performances included starring as Annie and appearing in productions of Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music. Alongside her stage career, she ventured into music, releasing her debut album, Small Voice, in 1981, which went gold in the Philippines. Her second album, Lea (1988), led to an opportunity to open for Stevie Wonder in Manila.
Salonga’s career skyrocketed when she originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon, earning widespread acclaim. Her performance won multiple prestigious awards, including the 1990 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards. She also became the first actress of Asian descent—and the second-youngest performer ever—to win a Tony Award.
Beyond the stage, Salonga became a member of Disney Legends, a hall of fame for those who made significant contributions to the Walt Disney Company. She provided the singing voice for Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (1992), performing A Whole New World at the 65th Academy Awards—a song that went on to win an Oscar and a Golden Globe. In 1998, she lent her voice to another iconic Disney princess, Mulan, in both Mulan films.
Lea Salonga’s impact on musical theater is immeasurable. Her extraordinary career continues to inspire, and in May 2025, she will receive the Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater at the 91st Annual Drama League Awards. Currently, she is performing on Broadway in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends.
Salonga is a green card holder, obtaining U.S. residency under “alien of extraordinary ability” status.
Others we are celebrating in honor of Women’s History Month:
2025
Cristeta Comerford, White House’s first female executive chef
Marlene Dietrich, renowned entertainer and activist
Indra Nooyi, Forbes list business executive and trailblazer
Azar Nafisi, critically acclaimed author and English Literature Professor
2024
Cecelia Payne-Gaposchkin, astronomer, educator, and trailblazer
Mother Cabrini, canonized Catholic sister and the patron saint of immigrants
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Psychiatrist and trailblazer for the acceptance of palliative care
Hinke Boot, former 20-year IIB Executive Director and advocate for New Americans
2023
Gloria Estefan, award-winning singer
Iman, supermodel and human rights activist
Isabel Allende, international best-selling author
Madeleine Albright, 64th U.S. Secretary of State, first woman to hold position
Martina Navratilova, tennis superstar and civil rights advocate
Mila Kunis, award-winning actress and humanitarian
Lidia Bastianich, Emmy award-winning celebrity chef
Hedy Lamarr, Hollywood “Golden Age” actress and modern tech luminary