Maria Luisa Ramsey Kagahastian, known professionally as Jaya, is a Filipino singer, actress, and television personality Her mother is Elizabeth Ramsey, a comedian and singer of Jamaican and Spanish-Filipino descent.

Referred to as the country's "Queen of Soul", she is known for her distinctively deep voice and soulful singing style. She was a talent of GMA Network but later transferred to ABS-CBN, where she served as one of the head juries of the Tawag ng Tanghalan segment of the variety show "It's Showtime" and performer on "ASAP".

Jaya is the second Filipino recording artist to chart in the United States with her debut single "If You Leave Me Now", peaking at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She also ventured into musical theatre, playing in the 1999 musical "Rama at Sita" staged at the University of the Philippines Theater.

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