Aviva Mongillo

Aviva Chiara Mongillo (born February 6, 1998), also known as Carys, is a Canadian singer and actress. She is known for her roles as Alya Kendrick in the Family Channel drama series Backstage and Juniper in the CBC sitcom Workin' Moms. After the online success of her song "Princesses Don't Cry", she released the EP To Anyone Like Me on October 2, 2020, through Warner Music Canada.

Early life Aviva Chiara Mongillo was born on February 6, 1998, in Markham, Canada. She was born into an Italian family, who she stated "always supported" her dreams. At the age of seven, she was enrolled in acting classes, followed by vocal lessons and guitar classes. She attended Unionville High School, and continued her education while appearing on Backstage. She portrayed the role for sixty episodes. In June 2016, Mongillo released her debut single, "Hype". The single was accompanied by a music video. On September 15, 2017, her debut EP, Songs About Boys, was released. The EP received promotion from Family Channel, Backstages network.

In 2018, Mongillo began portraying the recurring role of Juniper in the CBC sitcom Workin' Moms. In 2019, she appeared in the film Long Shot, playing a teenage version of Charlize Theron's character, as well as making an appearance in the slasher film Random Acts of Violence. Later in 2019, she began performing under the stage name Carys, with the single "Bad Boy" released on July 26, 2019. In August 2019, "Princesses Don't Cry", a song from the Songs About Boys EP, became a sleeper hit after going viral on social networking app TikTok. Over 850,000 videos were made using the song, which was later rereleased as a single under her stage name.

In June 2020, "No More" was released as her next single, accompanied by a music video. On August 28, 2020, she released the single "Crush", and announced that her debut EP as Carys, To Anyone Like Me, would be released on October 2, 2020. Upon the release of To Anyone Like Me, the song "When a Girl" was released as a single, with an accompanying music video. In 2025, she began starring in the Netflix series Bet as Dori Ahlstrom.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2016–2017 Backstage Alya Kendrick Main role 2017 Don't Talk to Irene Sarah Film 2018–2023 Workin' Moms Juniper Recurring role 2019 Long Shot Young Charlotte Film 2019 Random Acts of Violence Hannah Film 2020 Glass Houses Carrie Dawson Television film 2020 Retrograde Emma Short film 2022 1Up Indigo Film 2025–present Bet Dori Ahlstrom Main role The Land of Nod Film

Discography Extended plays Title Details Songs About Boys Released: September 15, 2017 Label: Cardinal Point Music Format: Digital download To Anyone Like Me Released: October 2, 2020 Label: Warner Music Canada Format: Digital download, streaming Waves Released: May 3, 2024 Label: Independent Format: Digital download, streaming Drama Queen Released: September 19, 2025 Label: Independent Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles + Title Year Album "Hype" 2016 Songs About Boys "Bad Boy" 2019 "Some of You" "Princesses Don't Cry" To Anyone Like Me "No More" 2020 "Crush" "When a Girl" "Psychic" 2022 "Recovering People Pleaser" 2023 "Aquarius" "The End" Waves "Heaven" "Ikyabwai" 2024 "Language" "Ring Pop" "Late Night Ice Cream" 2025 "Garden" "Dangelion Dreams" Drama Queen "Love You From Afar"