Maraiah Queen Arceta (born January 27, 2001), known professionally as Aiah, is a Filipino singer, rapper, dancer, and model. Her career began by participating in school events, modeling, and beauty pageants, winning titles such as Miss Silka Cebu and Miss Silka Philippines 2018. After gaining early exposure through various ABS-CBN auditions, she joined Star Hunt Academy (SHA), graduating as one of the final SHA Girl Trainees in October 2020, which later became the Filipino girl group Bini and debuted on June 11, 2021. In her musical career, Aiah co-wrote their single "Kapit Lang" (2021), writing the rap verse for the song. She also starred in the music video of Jeremy G's song "Bini" (2023), which she later co-sang with him in the remix version of the song in 2024. In 2023, she won the Top Female Visual of the Year award at the P-pop Awards.
Beyond her musical career, she has ventured into acting and television, making guest appearances on programs such as Drag Den and Kuan on One. Aiah also conducts philanthropic work through her annual charity project, Aiahdvocacy, supporting community outreach and environmental initiatives. Multiple sources have also credited Aiah for providing representation for the Cebuano language in the media.
Early life and education
Maraiah Queen Arceta was born on January 27, 2001[1] to Dick and Mary Louh Arceta[2] in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines, where she was raised alongside her only brother.[3]
In 2022, Aiah enrolled at Enderun Colleges in Taguig as a scholar,[4] taking a degree in Architecture in Interior Design and Multimedia Arts.[5]
Prior to her career with Bini, Aiah participated in school events, modeling, and beauty pageants.[6] She won five pageant titles within three years.[7] On September 29, 2018, she was crowned Miss Silka[a] Cebu at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.[9] On November 30, she proceeded to compete in the 11th Miss Silka Philippines pageant at Market! Market! in Taguig and won the title of Miss Silka Philippines 2018 on that day.[10][11]
She attended two auditions for ABS-CBN's Star Hunt in Cebu. In 2018, she auditioned for Pinoy Big Brother: Otso and advanced to the third round of the audition process but did not secure a spot as a housemate. Following her experience with Otso, she auditioned for the 2022 TV series Darna, encouraged by her modeling agency, but did not get the role.[12] During her appearance on the Cebuano talk show Kuan on One, she mentioned that her manager revealed that their aim was not to get the role, but to be noticed by the Star Hunt staff.[13] A few months after her audition, Aiah received a call inviting her to Manila to join a girl group. She accepted the invitation and became the last to join Star Hunt Academy as a trainee, joining the other trainees three months after training began.[12] On October 10, 2020, she was one of the last eight members of the SHA Girl Trainees to graduate from the academy and was officially announced as a member of an idol group.[14]
In November 2020, Aiah officially became a member of the Filipino girl group Bini, becoming one of the rappers of the group.[15][16] They officially debuted on June 11, 2021.[17]
2021–present: Bini, acting and television ventures
In 2021, Aiah co-wrote Bini's third single, "Kapit Lang" (Hold On), along with Lian Kyla, writing the rap verse of the song.[18] In 2023, Aiah starred in the music video for the song "Bini" by Jeremy G.[19] In January 2024, Aiah appeared along with Bini members Stacey and Mikha as guest judges on the second season of Drag Den, a drag reality show hosted by Manila Luzon.[20][21]
On June 28, she was featured on a remix of the song "Bini", originally a track on Jeremy G's first full-length album, Late Night Madness (2023).[22] The remix featuring Aiah was included in Jeremy G's 2024 album Late Night (More) Madness.[23] In July, Aiah was interviewed by Melai Cantiveros in an episode of the Cebuano-language talk show Kuan on One.[24]
Aiah appeared in a dramatization of fellow Bini member Sheena's life story in the anthology series Maalaala Mo Kaya (transl.Would You Remember), which premiered on May 1, 2025.[25]
Media image
In an article published on May 10, 2024, Billboard Philippines included Aiah in a list of Filipino celebrities who could "bring the right energy and distinctness" to avant-garde outfits from the Met Gala. Its writer, Kara Angan, noted that "there are many ways that Aiah can pull off a high-fashion piece".[26]
Influence
In an article published on June 13, 2024, Jessa Ngojo of Cebu Daily News hailed Aiah as one of the "Bisdak beauties" who have become "beloved icons for Cebuanos, Boholanos, and Visayans".[27]Billboard Philippines' Gabriel Saulog praised Aiah for incorporating her Cebuano heritage in her "jaw-dropping" solo performance at the Biniverse tour. She covered "Woman" by Doja Cat, adding a Cebuano-language rap verse that Saulog called "fantastic".[28] In March 2025, Julienne Loreto of the American magazine Positively Filipino credited Aiah for increasing the general public's interest in the Cebuano language.[29]
Personal life
On August 30, 2024, during a Bini event at SM Mall of Asia, a fan gave Aiah a Chow Chow-Japanese Spitz dog as a surprise gift. It garnered mixed reactions online. Pawssion Project, a non-profit animal welfare organization, criticized the surprise, stating that "pets are not gifts", though they clarified that it was not an attack on the singer.[30]
Aiah suffers from anxiety episodes. The documentary Bini Chapter 1: Born to Win explored her "battle" with anxiety. It was Aiah's choice for Born to Win to include depictions of her anxiety, hoping to comfort viewers with similar experiences.[31] In Born to Win, she explained her decision to be open about her mental health: "If sharing my experience can help someone, then I'll do it."[7]
Philanthropy
On September 21, 2024, Aiah visited a barangay in Tondo, Manila, to distribute goods to children, marking the beginning of "Aiahdvocacy", an annual charity project that distributes donations and assistance to communities and facilities across the Philippines from September to December.[32][33] In October, Aiah, along with her mother and Bini members Colet and Maloi, visited the Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases (GRACES), a nursing home in Quezon City, with support from volunteers from the Philippine Air Force and Aiah's fans.[34][35] In November, following their Grand Biniverse concert, Aiah carried out her charity project for the month in La Union. Aiah, along with her team, conducted beach cleanup, tree planting, and hosted a thanksgiving program for the locals, giving goods along the way.[36]
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