Kathryn Bernardo celebrates win of niece's dance crew at World Hip-Hop championships

Actress Kathryn Bernardo is one proud aunt after her niece, Lhexine, and her dance crew, Sayawatha Jr. from Miriam College, brought home the bronze medal from the 2026 World Hip-Hop Dance Championship in Arizona in the US.

Representing the Philippines, the young dance group competed against top international crews and secured third place in the Junior Division Grand Finals. Sayawatha Jr. made a strong impression early in the competition, placing second out of 33 teams during the preliminary round to secure their spot on the global stage.

Ahead of the finals, Kathryn’s mother, Min Bernardo, shared a heartfelt message on social media to encourage Lhexine and her teammates:

“Proud Glama here. Ang mapabilang pa lang ang grupo ninyo sa Finals ay isa nang napakalaking achievement,” Min wrote. “Anuman ang maging resulta, tandaan ninyo na panalo na kayo sa puso namin. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. Maraming salamat sa pagdadala ng karangalan sa Pilipinas.”

Kathryn—who turned 30 this year—showed her full support by liking the post and sharing it on her Instagram Stories. Following the finals, Min proudly announced the team’s third-place victory with a celebratory video, drawing warm comments from fellow celebrities, including Maja Salvador.

Lhexine, the daughter of Kathryn’s older sister Chrysler, has grown up in the spotlight alongside her famous aunt. Over the years, Kathryn has frequently shared sweet moments with her niece, who has inherited her aunt's natural confidence and charisma in front of the camera.

Representing Team Philippines

Sayawatha Jr. was not the only crew waving the Philippine flag at the prestigious international event. Fellow Filipino dance group A-Kidz also put up a strong performance, finishing eighth in the preliminary round.

Both teams represented the country against powerhouse crews from around the globe, including Freshh 2.0 (Canada), Mini Chapkidz (USA), J.B. Star Junior and Monsoon! (Japan), Breakfast (France), and Kookie Monstez (Australia).

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Kathryn continues to shine. She is currently starring in Netflix's hit ongoing series Someone, Someday alongside James Reid and Maja Salvador.

-Kim Asis/Paraluman News