She joined Star Power: Sharon Search For the Next Female Superstar in 2010 and placed fifth in the contest.
A resident of Lapu-Lapu, Akiko started singing in school events when she was a fourth grader.
Her first TV exposure was as a contestant for another ABS-CBN singing tilt for kids "Little Big Star, Cebu", hosted by Sheryn Regis.
She took up AB Masscom at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, and was the school's grand champion in its "Josenian Got Talent" contest last year.
Then, she joined Star Power: Sharon Search For the Next Female Superstar, dubbed as "Sweet and Sexy Siren of Cebu" and landed as the fifth placer of the said reality show.