Melissa Bulanhagui’s career shift to adult film puts her old fight for athlete support back in focus

Netizens revisit former Philippine champion Melissa Bulanhagui’s sports funding struggles following her adult entertainment career.

“Circumstances in life can actually change your morality and you cannot really blame them.”

Thus said one netizen reacting to the renewed interest in Filipino-American figure skater Melissa Bulanhagui, whose name has resurfaced online years after she left competitive skating and entered the adult entertainment industry.

Bulanhagui entered the adult film industry under the name Jada Kai. Her career transition was later discussed on the “Talk, Naked” podcast, where she was identified as a former figure skater who became an adult film star.

But while her second career has drawn fresh attention, Bulanhagui’s earlier experience representing the Philippines has also resurfaced, particularly her complaints about the financial support available to athletes in less-publicized sports.

Born in Philadelphia to Filipino parents, Bulanhagui began skating in 1996 and represented the United States internationally until 2010. Her highlights included a junior bronze at the U.S. Championships, a gold at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Merano, Italy, and a bronze at the Nebelhorn Trophy.

She switched to representing the Philippines in 2011, saying, “I am skating for the Philippines. It is my chance to compete for them.”

She went on to win consecutive Philippine national titles and represented the country at international competitions, including the Four Continents Championships and Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy. The ISU record confirms her Philippine titles and international results.

The switch, however, came with financial challenges.

“I came here from Team USA to compete as a Filipino national, hoping to prove that I was the best in the country and I did that twice,” she said.

She also expressed concern about what the lack of support could mean for younger athletes.

“I have so much love for the sport but if they can do it to me, the more they can do it to the kids who spent so much time and effort,” she said.

The Philippine Skating Union, for its part, said the decision not to endorse Bulanhagui for the Olympic qualifying event was made by its executive and technical committees and was based on technical considerations. 

Bulanhagui’s final documented international competition came at the Four Continents Championships, where she finished 15th for the Philippines.

She later entered the adult entertainment industry under the name Jada Kai. In a January 2021 episode of “Talk, Naked,” she was identified as a former figure skater who became an adult film star. 

Her career change and her earlier complaints about sports funding are separate chapters of her life, but their resurfacing at the same time has prompted a broader conversation online about the financial realities faced by athletes who compete for the Philippines.

One netizen called for greater attention to sports beyond basketball, writing, “Kasi naman, makausad na sana tayo sa narrative na Philippines is a basketball country. It’s time to start focusing na rin sa ibang sports sayang e.”

Another tagged the country’s sports authorities, writing, “Calling the Philippine Sports Committee!”

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