May 9 ------ Handpicked by renowned starmaker Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan, Sparkle’s newest batch of aspiring stars possess not only good looks, talent and the “it factor,” but also media-savvy—an increasingly valuable asset in the digital entertainment age.
“I saw ‘it’ in these people … They’re also representative of their generation because they’re media-savvy,” Mr. M said in the recent virtual launch of “Sparkada,” which is composed of 17 fresh faces who could very well become the future of GMA’s prime-time offerings. “Most of them already have a strong social media following. They’re already celebrities in their own spheres and rights. Sparkle is here to magnify it and make them even bigger stars,” Mr. M added.
The up-and-coming talents, Mr. M related, went through a series of auditions and intense workshops to prepare them “for the limelight.” “There were auditions … three to four go-sees. And little by little, you start to see and appreciate their special qualities. They also went through a quorum of judges, who also participated in the process,” Mr. M said. “All of them have a certain ‘it factor.’ You don’t know what it is, but it makes them unique, interesting and attractive … Of course, they’re all young, fun and exciting.”
Nine boys and eight girls comprise the Sparkada. They are:
Roxie Smith, 22, is a ballerina, stage actress and a beauty queen. Cheska Fausto, 21, is a content creator who dabbles in theater and pageants. Kirsten Gonzales, 18, has appeared in commercials for well-known brands. Caitlyn Stave, 17, was born and raised in San Francisco, United States, and recently moved to Bukidnon province, where she became a local pageant favorite, and later on, a social media influencer. Dilek Montemayor, 23, is a Turkish-Filipino hopeful who has starred in several television commercials. She also has a degree in aeronautical engineering and can speak four languages. Tanya Ramos, 15, is Wendell Ramos’ daughter and has her sights on becoming a dramatic actress. Lauren King, 14, started modeling when she was 3 and was a contestant in the Little Miss Philippines pageant on “Eat Bulaga!” Saviour Ramos, 22, is also Wendell’s child. Aside from acting, Saviour is also into music and has so far released three singles.
Anjay Anson, 19, has already appeared in a couple of Kapuso shows, including the prime-time suspense series “Widows’ Web.” Jeff Moses, 22, has built a considerable following on TikTok, where he uploads dance videos and song covers. Michael Sager, 19, hails from Vancouver, Canada, and recently moved to the Philippines to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He has appeared as a backup dancer in the Disney musical film “Descendants.” Kim Perez, 23, is a commercial model who’s also into music. Larkin Castor, 20, is a commercial model, basketball player and golfer. He’s passionate about singing and playing the guitar. Sean Lucas, 18, is a graduate of Philippine Science High School whose goal is to become an industrial engineer and a romantic comedy leading man. Vince Maristela, 21, used to play younger versions of lead male characters on television. Now, he’s hoping to land his first main role. Raheel Byria, 20, is a model-athlete, who’s dubbed by the network as a potential “show biz heartthrob.”
Source: inquirer.net
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