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 + Film roles Year Title Role Notes2008Ride the WakeKatelynnShort film2011Soul SurferMalina Birch2017KuleanaKimberly Coyle2018Den of ThievesMalia2020SidewinderMaggieShort film
Television + Television roles Year Title Role Notes2003The BreakNaniTV movie2005Rocky PointTattooed GirlEpisode: "Pilot"2006–2009Beyond the BreakLanikai 'Kai' KealohaMain role2014Hawaii Five-0Alana DuncanEpisode: "Kanalu Hope Loa"2016A Midsummer's Hawaiian DreamTanya McQueenTV movie2016NCISMetro PD Officer Sandra CornellEpisode: "Home of the Brave"2016Option ZeroEmilyTV movie2017BallersArielle2 episodes2017InhumansAuranRecurring role, 8 episodes2018LuciferWild ChildEpisode: "All About Her"2019Roswell, New MexicoArizonaSeason 1 Episode 9: "Songs About Texas"2019Magnum P.I. Leanna OwensSeason 2 Episode 1: "Payback for Beginners"2019Breckman Rodeo Kirby WhiteTV movie2020FBI: Most Wanted Angelyne LaCroixSeason 1 Episode 4: "Caesar"2021I Know What You Did Last SummerMel GilbertRecurring role2023–2025The ChosenFatiyah3 episodes2025The Cleaning Lady Vanessa SanchezSeason 4 Episode 8: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"
Video game + Video game roles Year Title Role Notes2019Tom Clancy's The Division 2Alani Kelso
References
External links
Miss Teen USA official profile