At just 20 years old, Angeli Chaves is a rising pop singer-songwriter, crowned beauty queen, advocate for Filipino culture, and perhaps most remarkably, a third-year nursing student. For Chaves, balancing her work in the medical field with studio sessions, runways, and community work is an opportunity for her to redefine what it means to be a modern role model.
Angeli Chaves, “Tacoma’s Rising Star”
Growing up in Tacoma, Washington, Chaves was affectionately dubbed “Tacoma’s Rising Star,” a title that initially surprised her. “I don’t even know what I did to deserve that title… but I’m so blessed and grateful,” she says. And this pursuit of purpose has carried her far beyond her hometown. She is now prepared to make her national music debut with an emotionally-charged EP produced by Grammy-nominated Luigie Gonzalez. The upcoming EP, which she describes as “cosmic and pop-forward,” explores unique themes of love. Inspired by vocalists like Adele, Dua Lipa, Whitney Houston, and others, Chaves approaches her music with technical precision. In the studio, Gonzalez helped her find new vocal depths, challenging her during sessions that combined focus with laughter. The track “Dream Boy,” a standout on the EP, was born in one such joyful session.
But Chaves’ artistry extends even beyond Western pop. As a proud Filipina-American, her music is entwined with Filipino culture. At shows, Chaves has memorized and performed hundreds of Filipino songs as a way of staying connected to her heritage. Her performances at Filipino-American cultural events across the country are acts of cultural celebration and preservation. In this aspect of her life, she takes inspiration from cultural figures like Catriona Gray (Miss Universe 2018), whose pride in her Filipino heritage and advocacy work has resonated with Chaves’ own career goals.
In 2024, that mission came to life when Chaves was crowned Miss World America Stardust, also earning the People’s Choice Award. But true to form, she used her platform for something larger than personal recognition, donating her winnings to typhoon relief efforts in the Philippines. For Chaves, these awards are meaningful only in how they amplify her voice for causes she believes in.
Angeli is releasing her EP later this year / via Instagram
Chaves’ journey has not been without challenges, however. Balancing music and nursing school requires time management and drive. Faith, family, and iced lavender lattes help her stay grounded, as do boundaries she has learned to set along the way. Yet despite her busy schedule and growing platform, Chaves remains connected to her hometown. Tacoma is not just where she grew up, it is where she learned that small cities can nurture big dreams. “I just want to keep doing what I love – making music that means something, representing where I come from, and helping others along the way,” she says.
While her EP will mark her formal entry into the national music scene, Chaves’ impact is already being felt in fashion. She was recently announced as a headliner for Fil-Am Fashion Week 2025, an event she has supported for the past two years as both a performer and runway model. For her, fashion is another form of storytelling in addition to her music.
So, what is next for Angeli Chaves? A lot, but she approaches it all with gratitude. Her EP will be released later this year, with plans for live shows to follow. She will continue her nursing studies, embracing the reality that art and science can coexist. And most importantly, she will keep showing up as herself: a Filipina-American artist, nursing student, sister, daughter, dreamer, and doer. “There’s this cultural pride that fuels me,” Chaves reflects. “I think about how far our community has come, and how much representation still matters. I carry that with me in every performance.”
To learn more about Angeli Chaves, visit https://angelichaves.com/.
