Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga, known professionally as Lea Salonga, is a Filipina singer and actress. She has left an indelible mark on the world of musical theatre, lending her voice to iconic Disney Princesses and achieving international acclaim.  At the age of eighteen, Salonga gained international recognition originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon in London's West End. Her performance earned her the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She later reprised the role on Broadway, winning the Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and Theatre World Award, and making history as the first Asian actress to win a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. Salonga became the first actress of Asian descent to play the roles of Éponine and Fantine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway. She also portrayed these characters in the musical's 10th and 25th anniversary concerts in London. Her enchanting vocals brought life to two official Disney Princesses: Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (1992), Fa Mulan in Mulan (1998) and its sequel Mulan II (2004)¹. Wu MeiLi in the 2002 Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song, Kei Kimura in Allegiance (2015–2016). Erzulie in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island (2017–2019). Salonga's albums have sold 19 million copies worldwide, solidifying her status as one of the bestselling Southeast Asian artists¹. She has graced the stage for six Philippine presidents, three American presidents, and even performed for Diana, Princess of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth II. Beyond her artistic achievements, Salonga is an active supporter of nontraditional casting, women's rights, reproductive rights, sex education, and LGBT rights.

Sources:
1. [Lea Salonga Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lea_Sal...)
2. [Lea Salonga IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0758964/bio/)
3. [Lea Salonga Filmbug](https://www.filmbug.com/db/30683)
4. [Lea Salonga Official Website](https://leasalonga.com/bio).
(1) Lea Salonga Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lea_Sal....
(2) Lea Salonga Biography IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0758964/bio/.
(3) Lea Salonga Filmbug. https://www.filmbug.com/db/30683.
(4) Bio — Lea Salonga. https://leasalonga.com/bio.
(5) Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/ne....