Fifteen minutes of fame can be fleeting or defining, depending on whether an issue is allowed to pass or be continually revisited.
Enter Joyce Tan Custodio, whose name divided public opinion amid online discussions about her relationship with General Santos City Councilor Michael Pacquiao and their 15-year age difference.
If fame is a fickle beast, Joyce’s leap from anonymity to visibility can be sudden—and may not be kind.
Here’s what PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) knows about her beyond being Michael’s long-term girlfriend.
Read: Michael Pacquiao's girlfriend breaks silence on age-gap issue
EARLY LIFE
Full Name, Age, Birthday
Mary Joyce Tan Custodio, more commonly known as Joyce/Joyz Tan Custodio, celebrates her birthday on June 29.
Her social media posts consistently mark the date, including a 2024 birthday carousel taken in Paris, captioned with the hashtag #Junebaby.
Based on the widely cited 15-year age gap between her and Michael, who was born in 2001, Joyce is estimated to have been born on June 29, 1986. If so, she would be turning 40 this year.
While Custodio has not publicly confirmed her exact birth year, this estimate has circulated alongside discussions about the timeline of her relationship with the Pacquiao family.
EDUCATION
Joyce studied fashion, arts, and design at LaSalle College International, an institution formerly based in Makati City.
In a 2008 feature by The Philippine Star, the school was described as the first international fashion school in the Philippines, operating under Groupe Collège LaSalle Montreal, which had 19 branches across 11 countries at the time.
Her academic background later expanded beyond creative fields.
According to her Facebook profile, Joyce earned a master’s degree in advertising from University of Santo Tomas, reflecting a shift toward brand-building, communication, and business strategy.
Read: A glimpse of Jinkee Pacquiao’s resort-style estate in GenSan
CAREER
Celebrity Stylist
Joyce’s most visible professional work emerged through her role as a celebrity stylist.
Over the years, she built connections within showbiz circles, working with several well-known Filipino artists.
Among those she has styled are Alden Richards, Carla Abellana, Janine Gutierrez, Jennylyn Mercado, Rhian Ramos, and Andrea Torres.
She has also worked with Jinkee Pacquiao, the wife of Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao and mother of her boyfriend Michael.
IMDb lists Joyce as part of the costume and wardrobe departments for several television projects including Haplos (2017–2018), Madrasta (2019–2020), Hearts on Ice (2023), and Mga Batang Riles (2025).
Her earliest known project dates back to 2013, when she worked as a stylist for Marian Rivera in the romantic comedy film My Lady Boss.
Construction Contractor
Joyce is also listed as a construction contractor in her Instagram bio, associated with AIVIM, formally known as ARCHINEER.
AIVIM is a company involved in residential design and construction.
Entrepreneur
Joyce has also ventured into entrepreneurship in the beauty sector.
She is listed on Facebook as the founder and CEO of La Vesh Lashes Growth Serum, an online brand focused on lash growth products.
The brand’s social media presence has been inactive since January 2024.
Read: Get to know Manny Pacquiao's children
PERSONAL LIFE
Joyce Custodio’s relationship with Michael Pacquiao
Wider public conversation followed Joyce after discussions surfaced about her relationship with Michael Pacquiao, the second son of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
Online attention intensified after a Reddit post on the r/ChikaPH forum highlighted the couple’s 15-year age difference, with users noting her prior professional relationship with the Pacquiao family.
Digital records suggest that Custodio’s association with the family dates back several years.
Social media posts from as early as 2020 show her interacting with family members, and referring to the family matriarch as “Tita Jinkee.”
On April 4, 2020, she uploaded a dance challenge video featuring herself, Jinkee, and Michael’s older brother, Jimuel Pacquiao.
In January 2022, Joyce posted a vlog documenting a barkada trip to General Santos City to celebrate Michael Pacquiao’s 20th birthday.
The video, which predated the current controversy by several years, resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny of their relationship timeline.
Addressing the issue, the thirty-something celebrity stylist took to Facebook on January 8, 2026, to ward off the negativity with a friendly advice.
She wrote in full (published as is): “Sasabog ata MESSENGER ko sa dami nagmemessage but sorry I can't answer to everyone [face with hand over mouth emoji]
“Fyi this is for everyone: My followers & Non Followers- Guys sa mga nakaka panuod ng reels/chicka videos ang cute niyo mas affected pa kayo sakin sa nababasa/napapanuod niyo na minsan halos maling information na nalabas sa news.
“Relax lang wag po makipag away sa mga ka-comment niyo, don't put any hate in your heart whatever you read or hear bcoz' of me [praying hands emoji] Life goes on and Deadmah na hindi naman nila ako kilala personally.
“Happy New year again [sparkle emoji]
“P.s. Don't worry sanay na kame,magpayaman nalang kayo kesa magaway away kayo sa comment section [emojis]
“And remember God can hear everything he will judge each & everyone of us at the end of ourlives so just be kind even if the world is not [finger heart emoji]”
Read: Jinkee Pacquiao emotional as family reunites after four years