Fil-Am gymnast showcases Filipino pride with Bruno Mars-inspired routine
Emma Malabuyo / Photo from Emma Malabuyo/Instagram
Filipino American Olympian gymnast Emma Malabuyo is bringing star power to the gymnastics arena, not just with her stellar skills but with her deep admiration for Fil-Am singer and Grammy-award winning superstar Bruno Mars.
Her new floor routine, set to the music of the “Just the Way You Are” hitmaker, has instantly become a crowd favorite, showcasing Filipino pride and reflecting her charming energy, gymnastic skills and love for Mars’ music.
“I love Bruno Mars. He is my favorite artist of all time,” Malabuyo gushed in an interview with International Gymnast Media. “Also (the fact that he is half-Filipino) was another big part. I was like, ‘’I just represented the Philippines (in Paris), and he’s half-Filipino, so I really want to do a routine inspired by him.’”
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The idea quickly gained momentum with the support of UCLA assistant coach and choreographer BJ Das. “It was actually a very quick decision,” Malabuyo recalled. “Once I mentioned it, she was onboard, saying, ‘Let’s do it.’ She picked all of the songs.”
Her performance has resonated with audiences. “Everybody loves it. Everyone knows Bruno Mars, so I think they get into this routine, enjoy it, and have so much fun,” she shared.
Beyond the music, Malabuyo is making waves with her exceptional gymnastics in the US. She recently clinched the balance beam title for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins with a meet-winning average score of 9.925, propelling her to No. 4 in the balance beam rankings for the 2025 US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season.
Her journey has been nothing short of historic. In 2024, she competed in the Paris Olympics as part of a groundbreaking team of three Filipino American gymnasts – the first to represent the Philippines in women’s artistic gymnastics in 60 years.
