Jennylyn Mercado (born May 15, 1987) is a Filipino actress, singer and songwriter. She gained fame as the winner of the first season of the reality talent competition StarStruck. Mercado is most known for receiving much critical acclaim at her young age for her acting performances on television and film. She has released three albums from GMA Records and Viva Records which have several popular singles such as "Sa Aking Panaginip", "Moments Of Love" collaboration with Janno Gibbs, "Maybe This Time" and "Kahit Sandali".

Biographie

Mercado was born on May 15, 1987, to a mother who was a duty-free store beauty consultant. Mercado had a stepfather who abused her as a child. He burned her skin with cigarette butts. Her mother, who was working in Dubai at that time, immediately flew back to the Philippines not to help her daughter, but to bail out Mercado's stepfather, who was in jail for abusing 4-year-old Jennylynn.

Mercado grew up in Paranaque, a city in the Metro Manila region of the Philippines. During her senior high school year at the Augustinian Abbey in nearby Las Piñas, Jennylyn had already found the Filipino spotlight, working on the reality-based TV show StarStruck, a role that proved to be her gateway to acting and singing celebrity.

Mercado's life story was featured in the weekly drama anthology Magpakailanman in October 14, 2004. She is now the official spokesperson of the Bata Foundation (Christian Mission Services), a non-government organization.

At 21, she got pregnant by her ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia, who distanced himself upon learning of her pregnancy. On August 16, 2008, she gave birth via Caesarian section (8-9 p.m.) to an 8-pound, 12 ounce (3.68 kg) baby boy at St. Luke's Hospital, Quezon City. Her child's name is Alex Jazz "AJ" Mercado.

She is the niece of television reporter, Abner Mercado. Her cousins are Cherie Mercado (news and radio anchor for News5), Charee Pineda, and Eliza Pineda who both work for ABS-CBN channel.


Activism and other endeavours
Aside from being a performer/entertainer, Mercado is also a political activist. She works with and the Philippine Women's Organization GABRIELA.

She is also an aspiring triathlete.