Gretchen Espina

In 2010, Espina made her first acting debut in Diva as Debbie Romasanta, Tiffany's (Glaiza de Castro) best friend and personal assistant who helps her to make Sam/Melody's (Regine Velasquez) life miserable.

On June 19, 2009, she was re-introduced after months of being away from the limelight due to a throat ailment she had gotten during her stint in Pinoy Idol last year, in the 59th Anniversary Celebration of GMA Network held at the Araneta Coliseum singing medley of songs. On July 5, 2009 she was welcomed as a new regular performer and co-host of the musical variety show SOP Rules.

Espina's debut album entitled Shining Through was released on August 4, 2009 by Sony Music Philippines and 19 Recordings with the carrier single entitled "Kasalanan Nga Ba?", originally sung and owned by Thor which is the theme song of the drama series Sine Novela: Tinik Sa Dibdib. The album also includes "To You", her "victory song" of Pinoy Idol.

Gretchen Stephanie Mendiola Espina (born January 8, 1988 in Quezon City, Philippines) is a Filipino singer and actress who rose to notability after winning Pinoy Idol, an interactive reality-based singing competition. Although she is credited as the first Pinoy Idol, Espina is technically the second winner of a Philippine Idol franchise, after Mau Marcelo of Philippine Idol in 2006. She came from the political family of Espinas of Biliran. Her father Rogelio Espina, is a former governor and the current representative of the lone district of Biliran, while her grandfather Gerardo Espina, Sr. is a former representative and mayor of Naval, Biliran and her uncle Gerardo Espina, Jr is a former representative and current governor of Biliran.