Did You Know? Sophia Laforteza Has Close Ties to This OG Disney Actress

Editor’s Note (February 28, 2026): This article has been updated to clarify that Anna Maria Perez de Tagle is not biologically related to the Guevara-Laforteza family, and that Lea Salonga is a close family friend, not Sophia Laforteza’s godmother.

Star power seems to naturally run in Sophia Laforteza’s world. Beyond her theater powerhouse of a mother, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, the 22-year-old grew up surrounded by respected figures in stage and entertainment. Among those in her circle is Disney alum Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, a longtime family friend.

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle probably looks quite familiar to individuals who grew up watching the Disney Channel. She resurfaced on everyone's radar when she shared post-concert photos with the six members of KATSEYE, giving a special shout-out to Sophia. "Just a Tita fangirling over [Katseye]," she captioned her post, expressing thanks to the group's leader for giving her access.

As it turns out, Anna is more than just another fan of the girl group. She shares a longtime connection with Sophia through their close-knit theater and entertainment circle.

While fans online speculated about a direct family relationship, Sophia and Anna are not related by blood. The Perez de Tagles are not related to the Guevara-Laforteza family; they are in-laws of Carla Guevara-Laforteza’s younger sister, Nikki, which explains why Sophia calls her "Tita."

In Filipino culture, the term “Tita” is often used affectionately for close family friends—which appears to be the case here. Although social media users referred to Anna as Sophia’s “aunt,” she is actually a family friend and not a biological relative.

Fans were quick to speculate after photos of Anna and Sophia circulated online. Some assumed the interaction pointed to a deeper family link, especially given Sophia’s evident knack for entertaining and her exposure to performers growing up.

For context, Anna was one of Disney Channel’s most recognizable faces in the 2000s, with supporting roles in hit titles Camp Rock and Hannah Montana. Many remember her as Ella Pador in the former, where she popularized the line, “Whatever, major loser!”

Anna, who has been based in the United States for most of her life, has kept a relatively low profile in recent years. She married Scott Kline Jr. in 2019 and has one child.

She linked up with Sophia and the rest of KATSEYE when the group made a stop in California during their ongoing tour. The members are currently enjoying a career high, having launched their EP Beautiful Chaos and earning two Grammy nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best New Artist.

Turns out, it’s a small world after all—especially within the Filipino community!