Heart over Height, From Basketball to Business | 10 Things to Know about Nikki Mungues

Written By Nico Belasco

From basketball to business, 27 yr old entrepreneur-athlete Nikki Mungues has proven that nothing is impossible for a fearless Filipina. Despite wearing many hats, Nikki has made it her mission to foster confidence in others and empower them to be their best selves on the court, in the business world, and beyond. Here are a few of the many things to know about her and her incredible journey! 

1. She grew up in California 

Nikki grew up in the Bay Area and moved to Los Angeles when she was 12 years old. The big leap was a large step out of her comfort zone, but she learned to adapt to her new environment and found a home in Southern California. Throughout her childhood, Nikki’s grandparents were actively present in her life, instilling Filipino values and teaching her the importance of culture and God. 

2. She lives and breathes basketball

Growing up, Nikki had her heart set on someday playing in the WNBA. Through the years, she did everything in her power to strengthen her skills and make her mark on the scene, no matter what it took. Her love for the game allowed her to compete on the highschool level, college level, and even in the popular pro-am basketball league, The Drew League. Here, she played against current WNBA players and women who would eventually end up in the major leagues overseas. Oftentimes, she raised our flag as the only Filipina on the court. To this day, it is a dream of Nikki’s to play on the Philippines Women’s National Basketball Team. We can’t wait to see her make it happen! 

3. She coached basketball alongside Kobe Bryant 

Nikki started out as a physical therapy aid, working in the sports medicine clinic and recovery room with athletes at the Sports Academy before it was bought by Kobe Bryant and later renamed to Mamba Sports Academy. As she was getting her hours in, she was approached to help coach a Jr. NBA clinic in the presence of none other than Kobe himself, which ultimately was the last one that he attended before he passed. This experience lit the flame in her passion to coach and pass on her knowledge of the game to the younger generation. Nikki went on to coach girls in middle school and run a number of her own in-person and virtual clinics. 

4. She initially wanted to be a doctor 

One of Nikki’s original goals was to become a doctor. She had her heart set on working in sports medicine, even going as far as interning and putting her skills to use in the WNBA, Drew League, and in hospitals. However, Nikki decided to pivot into helping others in a different light - leading them in basketball and business. This leap helped catapult her into yet another beautiful journey. 

5. She is one of the leading entrepreneurs in the country for Rainbow Systems 

Nikki is among the top entrepreneurs in the Rainbow business, conquering the Southern California region with her empowered team of driven individuals. Her mother started in the business over 20 years ago. With her guidance, Nikki has made waves on her own and has been recognized multiple times for her efforts in conferences across the globe with other Rainbow System leaders. Throughout her career, she has been named a world sales champion twice and is continuously rising up in the ranks. 

6. She is a motivational speaker 

Behind the mic, Nikki is a force to be reckoned with. She has traveled across the country to conduct talks as a motivational speaker with the likes of athletes, entrepreneurs, and people from all walks of life. Nikki stands firm in her mission to build confidence in others through sharing her journey and imparting knowledge she’s learned along the way. 

7. She has a podcast: “Queen Me” 

Nikki’s podcast “Queen Me” is one of many platforms that she uses to empower other women to tap into their potential and make the most of life. Since starting her podcast in 2021, Nikki has had authentic conversations with game changing women that have left tremendous marks on their respective industries. In the thick of the pandemic, the Queen Me Podcast was a beacon of light to women across the globe. 

8. She has overcome several injuries 

Throughout her basketball career, Nikki has had her fair share of hardships. Her track record consists of two torn ACLs (both required surgery), a torn meniscus, a sprained MCL & LCL, bone bruises, a dislocated pinky, and sprained ankles. Despite all of this, her love for the game of basketball fueled her to power through and continue playing. Nothing stood in the way of Nikki and the court. 

9. She uses her social media to empower others through insightful reels and posts 

Nikki’s Instagram page is where it’s at. She uses her account as a source of inspiration for others, sharing posts and reels. Nikki’s daily posts consist of tips on business, self empowerment, and life lessons she’s learned along the way. Whether it’s a lengthy caption sharing words of wisdom or a quick motivational reel, you can feel the passion that she puts into populating the digital world with quality content. 

10. She is a firm believer in Heart over Height 

When it comes to height, Nikki is an open book. Standing at 5 feet tall, it was easy for her to fall into insecurities, both on and off the court. When it came to basketball, a sport predominantly played by taller individuals, Nikki faced obstacles from the get-go. She often received criticism for her height, with one coach going so far as to say that she would never play college basketball. Despite the noise, Nikki turned her pain into purpose and used her coach’s comment as motivation to push even harder. Eventually, she proved him wrong and landed in a Division 2 school. Nikki proved to everyone that when she walks onto the court, she may be the smallest person in sight, but she has the biggest heart.

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Written By Nico Belasco

Photographer, Writer, Speaker, Podcast Host, Creative

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