There’s definitely no doubt that Maja Salvador has already gone a really, really long way ever since she got discovered in the early 2000s when the defunct talk show The Buzz featured her touching quest for her estranged biological father, late actor Ross Rival. However, she got more than she was looking for as Charo Santos-Concio opened the doors for her in local showbiz.

Despite having relatives in the industry, she’s able to carve her own path and create a name for herself in the past two decades, and is referred to at present as the “Majestic Superstar.”

It’s been two years already since the last time that we saw her in a Kapamilya program, specifically The Killer Bride. A lot of her fans were certainly delighted when it was confirmed that she’s going to be part of The Iron Heart as the love interest of Richard Gutierrez’s character.

Let’s look back on Maja’s remarkable journey as a Kapamilya actress in this throwback feature!

The then-15-year-old Salvador scion had her acting debut through the 2003 classic series It Might Be You, wherein she was part of the supporting cast. She scored her first-ever starring role via the teen adventure-supernatural series titled Spirits in 2004, which served as the television debut of critically-acclaimed director Chito S. Roño. The following year, she had her very first Maalaala Mo Kaya stint through the episode “Diary,” which aired in August 2005.

In 2006, Maja astounded us with her impressive portrayal of a cerebral palsy patient named April in the iconic “Regalo” episode of the long-running anthology drama series, and even had the opportunity to work alongside Star For All Seasons Vilma Santos who played as her mom Daisy. The said episode won as the Best TV Drama Program at the 15th KBP Golden Dove Awards. That same year, the promising actress starred in 2006’s TV series titled Sa Piling Mo.

As she’s also admired for her talents in dancing and singing, she’s able to showcase those in her projects in 2007 when portrayed the aspiring dancer named Dianne in Love Spell Presents: Shoes Ko Po, Shoes Ko ‘Day!, and the budding singer Kimmy Bautista/Ruby Gomez in the musical romantic-drama series Pangarap na Bituin.

She once again starred in a musical drama in 2008 via Your Song Presents: Kapag Ako ay Nagmahal, wherein she played a would-be prima ballerina named Andrea. That same year, she became the leading lady of the titular Pinoy superhero and his alter-ego in the fantaserye Komiks Presents: Kapitan Boom, and went on to star in the MMK episode “Board Game” opposite perennial dance partner Rayver Cruz.

In 2009, Maja got paired with “Primetime King” Coco Martin for the first time in Komiks Presents: Nasaan Ka Maruja?, then starred in the romantic drama series Nagsimula sa Puso. Within the same year up to 2010, she appeared as Stella Rodrigo in the phenomenal drama series titled May Bukas Pa.

Her career kept on thriving in 2010 as she continued to portray lead roles in various shows. She starred opposite Sam Milby in Precious Hearts Romances Presents Impostor, then played the titular role in Wansapanataym Presents Inday sa Balitaw and a dancer named Elena in the MMK episode “Dancing Shoes.”

The 34-year-old actress continued to showcase her versatility as actress through her impeccable performances in soap operas Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin and My Binondo Girl in 2011, as well as in Precious Hearts Romances Presents Lumayo Ka Man sa Akin, Toda Max, and Ina Kapatid Anak in 2012.

After her controversial portrayal of the loathed antagonist Nicole Esquivel in the sensational teleserye The Legal Wife in 2014, she later on touched hearts as Melissa Francisco in the seasonal series Give Love on Christmas Presents: The Gift of Life.

Maja was able to clinch her first-ever accolades as a television actress in 2015 for her commendable performance in Bridges Of Love, wherein she was recognized as Best Drama Actress in the 29th PMPC Star Awards for TV and Best Actress in a TV Series in HAU's Paragala Central Luzon Media Awards. Later that year, she got reunited with Coco Martin in the top-rating, longest running action drama series titled FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, portraying SP01 Glenda "Glen" Corpuz.

Ultimately, Maja became a multi-awarded actress when she starred as Lily Cruz/Ivy Aguas in the 2017 revenge drama series Wildflower, wherein her laudable portrayal gave her multiple Best Actress recognitions from different award-giving bodies. She eventually got the title “Queen of Revenge Drama” through her stint as the titular character Camila Dela Torre in the gothic drama series The Killer Bride.

Catch Maja as Cassandra in The Iron Heart, weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live and A2Z.