Malia first fell in love with live theatre at just eight years old, and that passion has shaped every step of her journey since. Born and raised in California’s Central Valley, Malia experienced firsthand the challenges of accessing quality arts education in rural communities. Determined to create change, she founded her Community Service Initiative, Share the Stage, an organization dedicated to bringing theatre education and opportunities to underserved, low-income, and geographically isolated communities. Through Share the Stage, Malia works to connect students with the transformative power of the performing arts, highlighting the confidence, creativity, and communication skills that theatre fosters.

Now in her second year at the University of California, Irvine, and as Miss Canyon Hills 2026, Malia is pursuing a degree in Drama with a minor in Digital Arts. She combines her love of performance with skills in graphic design and video production, embracing both the artistic and technical sides of storytelling. On campus, she serves on the board of Metro Theatre Company and Brick Theatre Company, and is a member of UCI’s 30 Plays in 60 Minutes collective, continuing to expand her experience both onstage and behind the scenes.

Malia’s dream is to perform on Broadway, sharing stories that inspire audiences from around the world. Her talent is a dynamic musical theatre vocal performance of “Show Off” from The Drowsy Chaperone. This performance earned her the Preliminary Talent Award at Miss California's Teen 2024 and the Dole Family Top Talent Award at the Miss Placentia/Yorba Linda Scholarship Competition.