McNeal Neri Briguela (born March 26, 2004), also known by her stage name Awra Briguela (), is a Filipino comedian and actress. She gained recognition when she starred in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2016–2019), personally chosen for the role by the show's lead actor Coco Martin. Briguela's life was featured in a titular episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya in 2016. In 2017, she was declared champion in the first season of the Filipino version of Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids.
Career
Briguela started her career off as an internet celebrity. Briguela became known to her parents for impersonating actresses like Sarah Geronimo and Sarah Lahbati. She was discovered by actor Coco Martin, who saw her potential in the primetime television series FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (2016–2019), a remake of the 1997 film of the same title and name. Briguela gained widespread for her role as "MakMak" and the series was produced by Dreamscape Entertainment Television, who created many successful pictures such as Doble Kara, Ina, Kapatid, Anak, and Till I Met You. Briguela starred in the series opposite Coco Martin, Susan Roces, Maja Salvador, Bela Padilla, Albert Martinez, Arjo Atayde, Eddie Garcia, Agot Isidro, Jaime Fabregas, and Simon "Onyok" Pineda, who played the role of Onyok. Briguela won a 3rd Aral Parangal Awards for Best Child Performer, which she won twice, for the primetime series.
Her life was featured in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, playing as himself alongside Aleck Bovick and Janus del Prado who played her mother and father respectively. She made her feature film debut in the Super Parental Guardians (2016) where he portrayed the role of Megan Gaspar alongside fellow Ang Probinsyano actors Coco Martin, Onyok Pineda and Vice Ganda. Briguela later participated as a contestant in Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids (season 1).
Personal life
Briguela is fond of impersonating Filipina actresses like Sarah Geronimo, Sarah Lahbati, and her idol Maja Salvador, who was one of her co-casts in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano. She popularized her screen name "Awra" upon achieving mainstream recognition as an actor and comedian.
Briguela's parents disclosed that he already shown signs of "being gay" since she give barbie doll from Older Sisters she was three years old. However by 2023, she reportedly identifies as a transwoman.
Legal issues
On June 29, 2023, Briguela was arrested for inflicting physical injury following an altercation at a bar in The Bolthole Bar, Poblacion, Makati. She was released on July 1 after posting bail.