Mayako Nigo is a Japanese voice actress born on December 2, 1979, in Tokyo, Japan. She is affiliated with the talent agency I'm Enterprise. Nigo began her career in the voice acting industry in the year 2000. Her path to this profession began in her childhood; she participated in English drama presentations during elementary school, an experience that, with encouragement from her mother, led her to discover voice acting as an ideal career that combined performance without the need to be seen on stage. She prepared for her debut by training at institutions such as Haikyo Voice Actors Studio and the Japan Narration Actors Institute.

Nigo is most widely recognized for her long-standing role as Yayoi Takatsuki in The Idolmaster franchise, a part she has played since the original arcade game. This role has spanned numerous adaptations and sequels, including the television anime The IDOLM@STER, the OVA THE IDOLM@STER LIVE FOR YOU!, the web anime PUCHIM@S and its sequel PUCHIM@S 2, the video game THE IDOLM@STER SHINY FESTA, and the film THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE: Kagayaki no Mukōgawa e!. Her performance as Yayoi is particularly noted for its distinctive vocal characterizations, including a unique pronunciation style in songs like GO MY WAY!! that became a beloved trait among fans.

Another significant early role was Kurumi the Hamster in the Angel Tales franchise, appearing in the original 2001 television series Angel Tales, its sequel Tenshi no Shippo Chu!, and related media. Her other notable anime roles include Putty in Rainbow Island ~Parties☆Party~, Lilica Felchenerow in the Arcana Heart game series, Misaki Etō in Dragon Crisis!, and minor roles in series such as Gintama and Rozen Maiden.

Beyond individual roles, Nigo has participated in collaborative projects. Notably, she was a member of the Gundam Girls, a voice actor unit formed with five other actresses, including Asumi Asano, to promote the PlayStation 2 game Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles. She has also been an active participant in radio programs related to her work, such as Radio de IMASHOW!, where she was given the nickname Mayochung by fellow voice actress Eriko Nakamura.

Throughout her career, Nigo has been praised for her energetic and bright personality, often voicing cheerful but slightly careless girls. Her singing voice is classified as soprano. While she may not have received major mainstream awards, she is highly regarded for her foundational contributions to The Idolmaster series, consistently participating in live concerts and anniversary events where her dedication to choreography and performance has been noted by fans and colleagues alike. Her physical strength and skill in sports became a lighthearted topic of discussion after she won an arm wrestling contest against several of her co-stars on a radio broadcast.