Sam Cruz is proving she’s got serious talent that goes way beyond her famous last name. She’s the daughter of Filipino entertainment royalty – actor Cesar Montano and actress Sunshine Cruz – but Sam’s determined to write her own story.
Standing tall at 5’6″ and hailing from Parañaque City in Metro Manila, Sam’s got that perfect blend of inherited talent and fierce independence. She’s quickly becoming one of the Philippines’ most promising young entertainers.
Sam Cruz Biography
Born Samantha Angeline Cruz Montano on August 24, 2004, her childhood was anything but ordinary. Her dad, Cesar Montano, is legendary for films like “José Rizal” and “Panaghoy sa Suba,” whilst her mum, Sunshine Cruz, dominated Philippine television in the ’90s. But here’s what’s brilliant about Sam – she never felt pressured to avoid the spotlight.
“Ever since I was little, I kinda fell in love with my parents’ work and I love watching them on TV,” she shares. “Nakaka-proud pala na, oh my gosh, those are my parents, whenever I see them on TV.” Rather than running from her family legacy, Sam embraced it.
The Cruz-Montano household is full of talent. Sam’s got two sisters who are equally close to her heart. There’s her older sister, Angelina, who’s an actress and singer, and her younger sister, Angel Francesca (nicknamed Chesca), whom Sam considers her absolute best friend. The two are inseparable – they still sleep in the same bed just so they can have their famous late-night “kwentuhan” sessions!
From her father’s other relationships, Sam also has half-siblings, including the established actor Diego Loyzaga, as well as Angela and Christian Montano. Here’s a fun family fact: all three sisters have “Angel” in their names – Angelina Isabelle, Samantha Angeline, and Angel Francesca.
Sam’s mum, Sunshine, has always been crystal clear about one thing: education comes first, no matter what. Sam attended the prestigious De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, where she successfully graduated in May 2023—but balancing books with a budding entertainment career? That’s no joke.
“Actually, for me, it’s been a lot easier to balance school, work and showbiz since right now since it’s all online,” Sam explained during her school years. The flexibility of remote learning allowed her to reschedule work if she missed a test or make up assignments around her entertainment commitments.
Sam’s refreshingly honest about her academic performance, too. She maintained straight A’s in most subjects but admits that mathematics was her downfall.
Sam Cruz Career
Sam’s career stardom started in the most modern way possible – with a YouTube channel. Back in August 2015, when she was just 11 years old, Sam launched her self-titled channel featuring vlogs, challenges, and tag videos.
Fast forward to January 2020, and Sam landed a recording contract with Universal Records Philippines.
Her debut single, “Train of Thought,” dropped in August 2021, and it’s absolutely brilliant. The song captures that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling when you’re crushing hard on someone. Leon Barretto stars in the music video, which has racked up thousands of views.
She draws inspiration from Ariana Grande’s pop sensibilities and Rihanna’s R&B swagger, whilst also loving Arctic Monkeys and Nirvana. Her preference? “Pop songs, catchy songs or songs that you would love to listen to on repeat.” She’s not just a vocalist either – Sam plays guitar, ukulele, and keyboards.
She’s actively penning her own tracks, drawing inspiration from her daily life and experiences. “I usually get my inspiration from whatever is happening and going on in my life,” she explains. “Example, if meron po akong crush, as it’s very common for everyone my age to have crushes, hahaha, so that’s it, I start writing, I write what I feel.”
Universal Records is clearly invested in Sam’s potential – there’s talk of a debut album in the works. She’s also planning collaborations with Filipino rappers and will be releasing both original songs and fresh renditions of existing tracks. Her additional singles include “Changes” and “Umiibig Pa Rin,”.
Acting Career
Music might be Sam’s first love, but she’s not limiting herself. In March 2021, she officially joined Star Magic’s Squad Plus, the expanded version of the original Gold Squad from “Kadenang Ginto.” This group of 13 Gen Z stars includes names like Ashton Salvador and KD Estrada, and Sam fits right in with her infectious energy.
Her acting debut came with “Unloving U” in 2021, where she played Jacklyn in this romantic comedy mini-series on iWantTFC. She’s also been a semi-regular performer on “ASAP Natin To” from 2021 to 2022, showcasing her musical talents on the Philippines’ longest-running variety show.
Sam’s not stopping there. She’s actively taking acting workshops with Star Magic and has her sights set on hosting gigs as well. And here’s something that might surprise you – she’s seriously considering beauty pageants! Standing at 5’6″ and being the tallest among her sisters, she’s been getting encouragement from fans and industry insiders about her pageant potential.
Sam’s Instagram game is absolutely fire. With over 800,000 followers hanging on her every post, she’s become a serious influencer in the lifestyle and fashion space. But this isn’t just about pretty pictures – Sam’s leveraging her platform for sponsored brand posts and partnerships with companies.
Sam Cruz Personal Life
Here’s where Sam gets refreshingly honest about growing up in the public eye. Her mum, Sunshine, had clear rules about dating – no official boyfriends until 18, and even then, age alone wouldn’t automatically grant dating privileges. Sam’s totally cool with this approach.
“I wanna focus on myself, my work and my school for the meantime,” she said in an interview. Her mum does allow crushes, though, which often become creative fuel for Sam’s songwriting. Now at 22, Sam maintains this focus on personal growth and career development whilst remaining single.
Despite her parents’ separation in 2013 and subsequent annulment in 2018, Sam maintains incredibly strong relationships with both parents.
Sam Cruz Net Worth
Sam’s estimated net worth is around $50,000 – $100,000 as of 2024, but this figure is expected to climb rapidly. Her income streams are impressively diverse for someone her age. Music releases and streaming royalties form the foundation, whilst her television appearances and acting roles add steady income.
However, there’s more – those sponsored Instagram posts to her 800,000+ followers are generating substantial revenue.
