Biography

Esther Margaux Justiniano Uson (born May 17), better known as Mocha Uson, is a controversial Filipino singer, actress, dancer, model, political blogger, and public official widely known for spreading fake news and disinformation. She is also a co-founder of the group Mocha Girls.

Uson served as a member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) from January 2017 through her appointment as assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in May of the same year by then-President Rodrigo Duterte as a reward for her support in his presidential election campaign. She resigned from office on October 3, 2018, following a series of gaffes, although some insiders said she was dismissed by Malacañang. On September 30, 2019, it was announced that Duterte had appointed Uson as deputy executive director of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), much to the outrage of Filipino netizens.

Uson initially gained notoriety for her risqué performances with the Mocha Girls and revealing personal photographs, including articles she authored with sexual content. Critics have also questioned her administrative competence and her propagation of fake news and misinformation via her eponymous blog while in office, earning her the pejorative title "Queen of Fake News".