Biography

Jelynn Malone (also credited as Jelynn Sophia and Jelynn Rodriguez) is a Filipina American actress, television host, producer, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder/Chief Brand Officer of Mostra Coffee, the award-winning specialty coffee company recognized internationally for championing Philippine specialty coffee and helping create sustainable livelihoods for Filipino farming communities around the world.

Born and raised in San Diego, California, Jelynn discovered her love for performing at just three years old after singing on stage at a local cultural festival. Raised in a deeply community-driven Filipino American family, she spent much of her childhood immersed in dance, studying hip hop, tap, ballet, jazz, and modern dance before ultimately pursuing hip hop professionally. Her entertainment career began after auditioning against more than 300 applicants for one of only fifteen coveted spots at a Los Angeles talent agency, launching her journey into Hollywood as a professional dancer. One of her earliest career highlights included performing alongside Eminem at the MTV Movie Awards.

Shortly after transitioning into hosting and acting, Jelynn became the longtime host of the Imagen Award-nominated music and entertainment series The Drop on SiTV (now NuvoTV), hosting the show for five seasons. She later hosted for major networks and brands including Disney/ABC, TV Guide Channel, AMC, MTV, VH1, Altitude TV, Nike, and Soapnet, interviewing many of the biggest names in entertainment, music, sports, and pop culture.

Jelynn also expanded into the sports and lifestyle world, serving as Nike’s official host for NBA All-Star Weekend, where she interviewed many of the NBA’s biggest stars. Among the most memorable moments of her hosting career was her interview with Kobe Bryant, an experience she has described as unforgettable. Her passion for food and culture also led her to host and judge Kitchen Cookoff for MSN and Hillshire Farms while continuing to build a versatile career across television, film, digital media, and live entertainment.

As an actress, Jelynn has appeared in numerous television series and films including General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, Las Vegas, Samantha Who?, Cavemen, Brothers, and Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande. Her film credits include Bar Starz opposite Jon Bernthal, Grizzly Park, Facade, How to Make Love to a Woman, Men, Interrupted, and the popular web series Acts of Love & Sex. She is also a producer and one of the lead actresses of the upcoming satirical thriller Crab, a project developed in collaboration with El Rey Network and acclaimed filmmaker Robert Rodriguez.

Most recently, Jelynn stars in the lead role of Noa in Nurse the Dead, the groundbreaking supernatural dark comedy premiering on iWant. Filmed in Los Angeles, the series is being recognized as the first Filipino-produced television series created and filmed in Hollywood. The bilingual series marks a major milestone in Filipino storytelling and further solidifies Jelynn’s commitment to elevating underrepresented voices in entertainment.

Beyond Hollywood, Jelynn is widely recognized as a visionary entrepreneur and cultural storyteller through her work with Mostra Coffee. Under her leadership, Mostra has earned national acclaim including Roast Magazine’s 2020 Micro Roaster of the Year and the 2022 U.S. Coffee Roasting Championship, helping position the company among the most celebrated coffee brands in America. She has led major partnerships with organizations including the San Diego Padres, San Diego FC, Disney, and San Diego Wave FC while helping grow Mostra into a globally recognized lifestyle brand rooted in culture, hospitality, storytelling, and community impact.

Passionate about representation, entrepreneurship, and inspiring future generations, Jelynn continues to bridge the worlds of entertainment, media, business, sports, and culture while proudly representing Filipino Americans on a global stage.
- IMDb mini biography by: James Malone