Mimi Miyagi

Mimi Miyagi

Born Melody Damayo on July 3, 1973, in Davao City, Philippines, Mimi Miyagi built a multifaceted career across adult film, publishing, and politics over a span of roughly 14 years. She is the second of four children born to Filipino immigrant parents Mike Ariesgado and Luz Damayo, both conservative Christians. The family relocated to California when she was six years old, and her parents later sent her back to Mindanao to attend a Seventh Day Adventist academy in Bukidnon province for high school.

Entry into Adult Film

After returning to Los Angeles just before turning 18 with limited funds, Damayo enrolled at the American College for Fashion Merchandising in Westwood but ran out of money by 1992. She answered an ad for nude models and transitioned into adult film work, beginning with producer Ed Powers. She adopted "Mimi," her childhood nickname given by her grandmother, and "Miyagi," borrowed from the character in The Karate Kid. Her career started around 1991, and within two years she had become one of the more recognized Asian Models in the adult industry. She underwent breast augmentation surgery multiple times, going from a natural B cup to DD. Standing at 5'3", she fits squarely among petite models in the field.

Business Ventures and Publishing

Frustrated by unreliable payments from smaller producers, Mimi shifted toward controlling her own business interests. She launched Oriental Dolls, an Asian-themed men's magazine later renamed Asian Hotties, which gained a notable readership. She also built and coded her own website, which went live in January 2000 after a previous site was taken over by a hired webmaster. The site eventually employed a rotating staff of 12 performers for live content. In 1999, she began producing films for Metro Home Video, creating the FantAsiany series with at least four installments.

Retirement, Return, and Political Run

Mimi initially retired from performing to marry and raise a child. Following a difficult divorce, she came out of retirement in September 2003, appearing in the adult film Happy Ending. In May 2005, she took a small role in the mainstream comedy Come Again. She also ran for Governor of Nevada on the Republican ticket, a campaign that, while unsuccessful, generated significant media attention. In December 2006, she returned to adult film once more after the gubernatorial race. Her years active are generally recorded as 1991 through the mid-2000s, representing roughly 14 years of intermittent work in front of and behind the camera. She has a tattoo of a band on her upper right arm.