STAR DREAM GIRL: Melissa Marie Ricks
In an industry as controversial as the entertainment world, one must seek one’s place under the bright lights and establish oneself. Nobody wants to be an overnight sensation. Seventeen-year-old Melissa Marie Ricks believes exactly this — she doesn’t want to be included in the list of the so-called flashes-in-the-pan. So, after emerging as a runner-up in a TV reality competition, she made sure to work harder and improve on her craft. The 5’7” statuesque mestiza doesn’t deny that her stint in ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Quest gave her instant popularity and launched the stable career that she has now. But what matters to her more are the lessons she’s learned and friends she’s met in the show.
“The best thing about being in this business is I get to meet a lot of people and learn a lot of different things — that I need to be strong and that I can’t please everybody,” says the half-American, half-Filipina teen star. She adds these lessons learned to the nuggets of wisdom her parents have shared with her. Her father, operations director Kelly Ricks, reminds her to “enjoy my life while I’m young because I’m only young once.” From her mom, Josefina Ramos, Melissa got her first lessons on honesty and humility.
After some time in the industry, Melissa’s hard work and patience paid off. She is now one of Star Magic’s precious jewels and has been assigned to numerous programs that challenge her capabilities as a teen star. And she can proudly say she has passed the tests with flying colors — whether it be acting, singing, dancing or hosting. But her rise to stardom is just beginning. “My dream is to play a role like Angelina Jolie’s in Tomb Raider or the girl in Resident Evil,” she beams.
When she gets a breather from her hectic schedule, Melissa is back to her normal self. She loves strolling in the mall and going to the arcade. Singing the karaoke with friends is her idea of fun.
Melissa, who had just graduated from high school from ABS-CBN’s
