local
San Francisco Bay Area's 11-year-old 'Moana' star Amaya Masoli speaks on culture, representation
By KGO at ABC13 Houston (KTRK - ABC)
· July 10, 2026
· 1 min read
San Francisco Bay Area native 11-year-old Amaya Masoli, who's starring as young Moana in Disney's live-action remake, shared her excitement for the film and how she brought her own Samoan culture into the experience.
Why this matters in The Pearland
The selection of Amaya Masoli, an 11-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area, to star as young Moana in Disney's live-action remake may seem unrelated to Pearland at first glance. However, given the diversity of the Houston area, which includes Pearland, this story has relevance to local residents who value cultural representation in media. Pearland's own diverse community, with a significant population of residents from various ethnic backgrounds, can appreciate the importance of authentic cultural portrayal in films. As the Houston area continues to grow and become more diverse, stories like Masoli's can inspire local young people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in the arts, promoting a more inclusive and representative entertainment industry. This can have a positive impact on the local community, fostering a sense of belonging and pride among residents who see themselves reflected in the stories and characters on screen.
About this story
Original reporting by ABC13 Houston (KTRK - ABC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ABC13 Houston (KTRK - ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 10, 2026 ·
Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK - ABC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? San Francisco Bay Area native 11-year-old Amaya Masoli, who's starring as young Moana in Disney's live-action remake, shared her excitement for the film and how she brought her own Samoan culture into the experience.
When was this published? This article was first published on July 10, 2026 by ABC13 Houston (KTRK - ABC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by KGO at ABC13 Houston (KTRK - ABC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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