Behind her intense gaze and enigmatic smile lies a rare story of determination and passion. Christiana Mongol Budica, a name with strong resonance in the world of Martial Arts, is not only a world champion in Kickboxing and MMA, but also an artist with a special sensitivity.
Raised in Bucharest, in a family with a rich sporting heritage, Christiana developed her skills from an early age, turning into an unstoppable force. Beyond her athletic successes, Christiana is also an engaging motivational speaker and actress whose talent for inspiring people transcends words.
With a magnetic presence and a fascinating life story, she won the hearts of those who had the privilege of listening to her. Whether in the ring, in front of a screen or on stage, Christiana Budica embodies the transformative power of perseverance and creativity, leaving an indelible mark wherever she goes.
Bio
Christiana "Mongol" Budica (born Stancu) (July 19, 1991) is Martial Arts and Kickboxing World Champion who is also specialized in Byzantine Iconography and a professional painter, motivational speaker and actress.
Christiana was raised in Bucharest, Romania, born from a professional bowling player (mother) and a jujitsu martial artist (father). She had an early start in both martial arts and painting, her second profession. Her parents observed her talents since she was only three years old. She began her career in combat sports at age 9 while painting in the same school complex where the father of one of her painting colleagues was a martial arts coach. She retired from her Kyokushin karate career after 9 glamorous years, to begin developing in the art of Kempo, and then started her Kickboxing and MMA career, being the first woman in Romania to ever enter a cage and win an international World Title under Igor Vovchanchyn. Later, Christiana would also pursue her boxing and wrestling career, making international results in 9 different fighting styles and sports, with 3 black belts in Kempo, Taekwondo and Karate
Christiana took part in several kyokushin and kempo events in Japan, where she met Ray Sefo, Jayson Vemoa or the coaches of Francisco Filho and Glaube Feitosa, Yoshiji Soeno and started learning from them. Her models are Benny "the Jet" Urquidez, Chuck Norris, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko "Cro Cop'' Filipovic. Portuguese champion José (Zé) Fortes also educated her on Muay Thai.
She became a graduate in Theology, Sacred Art, Iconographic Painting, with the paper "The three ways of worship of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke", for which she obtained the maximum grade. She supports her sports activity by painting, her works being sold in her native country and abroad. In 2022 she opened her first personal painting exhibition called "One way" having an amazing critics review and selling all her paintings.
She has been invited to speak in different events about her success story both life and sport. Because of her great speaking talent she influences in a positive way many people. Since 2015, she has been invited to the TEDxTalks stage and becomes a professional speaker, inspiring people from everywhere through this unique combination of professions and intellectual concerns alike.
Along with her spouse, Christiana has created the Societies Magazine, an international cultural magazine, with a general view over the Romanian society and the foreign societies Romania is interacting with. Also, she is the general editor for Sport Revolution Magazine, the best sports magazine in Romania.
Christiana was a special reporter for the Indoor and Martial Arts Games, held in Ashgabad, Turkmenistan, 2017, for the Asian Games.
She is noticed by the cinematic world, and in 2015 she films her first action role then the first music video in which she is the protagonist and obtains a contract as a stunt double for the main actress in an international film. In 2021, together with her husband, the historian and sports journalist, Octavian Budică, she films an independent project, Ter Chono - a Mongolian story, a historical short film that managed to collect international awards all over the world, in which Christiana plays the main role, that of the Mongolian warrior princess, Ter Chono. The film is based on the idea of Octavian Budică, who also wrote the story and produced the movie.
Awards
- 2015 Sportsman of the year in Romania, awarded by Alexandrion Group
- 2015 Person of the year in sports, awarded by Cotidianul
- 2016 Woman of the year, awarded by Lady Gala
- 2018 Woman of the year in sports, awarded by DeBizz
- 2018 Best Pro Fighter, awarded by DSTB (Directorate of Sport and Youth Bucharest)
- 2020 Lumina International & Cherish Life Foundation Special "Woman of the Year" Award
- 2021 Best Fihgt4KO fighter IFMA Turkey, awarded Mali Production
- 2021 Best Thaiboxing Professional Fighter Fight4KO WMC Thailand
- 2023 Top 100 sportswomen of Romania STRENGTH OF WOMEN IN SPORTS
