Foreboding headlines now surround the name Athena Imperial, whose controversy-free image used to solely revolve around her years of field reporting, pageantry, and advocacy work.
If recent headlines are anything to go by, many celebrity onlookers are only now beginning to fully catch her drift.
For the better part of her public career, Athena managed to keep her name away from viral noise that often consume personalities in both media and showbiz.
Rather than dial back amid intense public scrutiny, Athena chose to formally pursue legal action against former GMA News reporter Nico Waje in May 2026.
Here’s everything to know about Athena.
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EARLY LIFE
Name, Birthdate, Age
Athena’s full name is Athena Mae Duarte Imperial. Following her marriage, she now legally carries the name Athena Mae Duarte Imperial-Rodriguez.
She was born on February 2, 1987. As of writing, she is 39 years old.
Born on the second day of February, Athena falls under the Aquarius zodiac sign, which is often associated with independence, strong opinions, and individuality.
Hometown
Although her birthplace is Legazpi, Albay, she has often pointed to Brgy. Tinib in Casiguran, Aurora, as the place she considers home.
Legazpi, known for being the gateway to the iconic Mayon Volcano, is recognized for its rich Bicolano culture, scenic landscapes, and strong resilience against natural calamities.
Casiguran, on the other hand, is a coastal municipality known for its beaches, fishing communities, and laid-back atmosphere.
Family
Coming from a relatively small household, Athena grew up in a family of four alongside her parents and younger brother.
She is the eldest child of Angel Imperial, who worked for the Philippine National Food Authority, and former housewife Mercy Duarte.
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EDUCATION
Much of Athena’s student life was spent moving between provinces and cities for school.
She completed her elementary education at the College of the Immaculate Conception in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
She later continued her studies in the same city, attending high school at the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.
For college, Athena entered the University of the Philippines, where she took up B.A. Communication Research.
She graduated in 2008, officially beginning the path that would eventually lead her into television journalism and broadcasting.
Years into her media career, Athena returned to school.
From June 2015 to May 2017, she pursued a master’s degree in Journalism at Ateneo de Manila University, balancing graduate studies alongside an already active career in media.
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CAREER
Program Researcher/Coordinator
Just a year after graduating from the University of the Philippines, Athena had already found herself inside the halls of GMA Network.
According to her LinkedIn profile, the Kapuso network became her professional home early on, long before viewers would eventually recognize her as a television personality and field reporter.
Athena first built her career behind the cameras.
From May 2009 to May 2011, she worked as a researcher and writer for the network’s long-running investigative news magazine program Reporter’s Notebook.
Then she took a turn toward pageantry.
Pageantry
In 2011, Athena joined Miss Philippines Earth, representing Casiguran, Aurora.
Starting as one of 50 candidates, she steadily survived several rounds of eliminations before making it to the Top 10 finalists during the talent and cultural costume competitions held at Thunderbird Resorts in Binangonan, Rizal.
By the time the finals arrived, Athena had become one of the strongest contenders in the competition.
She earned one of the highest scores in both the swimsuit and evening gown portions and also delivered a strong performance during the question-and-answer segment.
At the conclusion of the pageant held on June 5, 2011, at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in Palawan, Athena was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2011 by outgoing titleholder Psyche Resus.
She also received the People’s Choice Award during the competition.
Following her win, Aurora Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo publicly remarked that Athena possessed qualities fit for public leadership someday, citing her confidence, speaking skills, and U.P. background.
Later that same year, Athena represented the Philippines at Miss Earth 2011, held at the UP Theater in Diliman, Quezon City.
She ultimately finished as Miss Earth-Water, placing third overall in the international competition.
Media Personality
After her pageant run, Athena returned to the media industry.
Starting August 2012 up to the present, she has worked as a news anchor, senior correspondent, and field reporter for GMA News TV, finally stepping fully into the public-facing role many viewers now associate her with.
In 2019, she received recognition for her contributions and efforts in broadcast journalism, at the Lustre Awards 2019 held at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Philippines.
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PERSONAL LIFE
Athena’s married life with John Ben Rodriguez
Away from the cameras and field reporting assignments, Athena shares a more private life with her husband, stock market advocate John Ben Rodriguez.
The couple tied the knot on April 2, 2018, in a purple-and-green-themed wedding held at Caleruega in Nasugbu, Batangas.
Known for its scenic views and serene atmosphere, the popular wedding venue became the setting for the couple’s intimate yet well-attended ceremony.
Several personalities from GMA News were present during the wedding, including Mike Enriquez, Sandra Aguinaldo, Mavs Gonzales, Mariz Umali, Raffy Tima, Victoria Tulad, and Vonne Aquino.
Even in the middle of the celebrations, Athena managed to relate a small personal moment online.
Through her Instagram Stories at the time, she revealed that the first meal she had with John Ben as husband and wife was a cheesecake.
Two years later, the couple entered another chapter of their lives after welcoming their first child.
On June 16, 2020, Athena announced on Instagram that she had given birth to a baby girl named Bethany Rodriguez.
She uploaded a photo of their daughter wrapped in a pink towel while peacefully sleeping.
Prior to giving birth, Athena also opened up about her health journey, revealing that she became pregnant six months after undergoing surgery to remove ovarian cysts.
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Controversies
For most of her career, Athena largely stayed away from controversies.
In fact, much of the content tied to her social-media presence over the years revolved around her work as a journalist, her environmental advocacies stemming from her pageant background, public appearances, and field reporting assignments.
All that in the second quarter of this year.
On the morning of May 13, 2026, Athena formally filed complaints against former GMA News reporter Nico Waje before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City.
The lawsuits involve charges of acts of lasciviousness under Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code and gender-based sexual harassment under Republic Act No. 11313, also known as the Safe Spaces Act.
Athena personally appeared at the prosecutor’s office alongside her legal counsel, Atty. Aloi Renz Santos of APS Law.
At the time the controversy erupted, Athena was already widely known both as a longtime GMA News reporter and as Miss Earth-Water 2011.
Nico, meanwhile, had recently gone viral online months earlier due to his widely shared typhoon coverage during Bagyong Dante.
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Through an official statement released by APS Law, Athena’s camp confirmed the filing of the complaints but chose not to publicly disclose the contents of the complaint affidavit submitted before authorities.
Part of the statement read: “APS Law, through Atty. Aloi Renz P. Santos, confirms that Ms. Athena Mae D. Imperial-Rodriguez has filed the appropriate complaint before the proper authorities.”
The statement further emphasized that Athena decided to come forward not only for herself but also for others who may still be hesitant to speak up regarding similar experiences.
Her legal counsel also revealed that another individual had separately filed a complaint against Nico, though no further details were disclosed out of respect for due process and privacy.
Despite intense public interest surrounding the issue, Athena declined interview requests after filing the complaints.
Instead, she released a statement through her lawyer explaining the reason behind her decision to pursue legal action.
According to Athena, coming forward was neither immediate nor easy.
“This was not an easy decision. It took time, reflection, and support from the people closest to me before I found the courage to come forward,” she stated.
She further expressed hope that pursuing legal remedies through proper channels could help contribute to safer spaces and stronger accountability within workplaces and industries.
Athena also made it clear that she would no longer publicly discuss the details of the case while proceedings remain ongoing, choosing instead to place her trust in the legal process.
At press time, Nico has yet to release an official statement regarding the complaints filed against him.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) has reached out to Nico via Facebook messages and will publish his response once received.
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