In the past 10 years, It’s Showtime has indeed successfully taken over noontime viewing habit.
It has not only entertained us with the comedic chops and remarkable hosting brilliance exuded by its gregarious hosts, but also became a platform for many of our talented and beautiful kababayans to showcase their exceptional prowess and striking beauty as well through its fun and one-of-a-kind segments.
However, among the thousands of ordinary people who stepped on its stage and were introduced to the madlang people, there are 10 who are able to snag a spot in the local entertainment scene after their remarkable stints on the program. Here are they:
Xymon Pineda
We immediately fell in love with the three-year-old Xymon Ezekiel Pineda when he first appeared on the show as the mini version of OPM rock icon Bamboo on the first season of “Mini Me”. He might not have won, but a bigger blessing came to him in 2015 when he was chosen to play the popular role of “Onyok”, the sidekick of Coco Martin’s titular character in the top-rating primetime series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
Xia Vigor
With his cuteness and notable British accent, we couldn’t help but adore this Filipina-British stunner who introduced herself as mini Selena Gomez in the sophomore season of Mini Me, in which she was hailed as the grand winner.
She scored numerous projects after that, including co-hosting a segment on the noontime program dubbed “Xia and Kuys”, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, Langit Lupa, Your Face Sounds Familiar and the upcoming Metro Manila Film Fest 2019 entry “Miracle in Cell No.7.”
Nayomi Ramos
Before capturing our hearts as “Heart” in the 2017 primetime series My Dear Heart and as Britney in the recently-concluded daytime drama, Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit, did you know that Nayomi Ramos also joined It’s Showtime’s “Mini Me” as mini-Anne Curtis? Well, she might not have won, but she’s been doing a great job in captivating us in her every appearance.
Jackque Gonzaga
Of course, who doesn’t know Jackie Gonzaga, or also known as “Ate Girl”? From being a back-up dancer, she unexpectedly got famous after Vice Ganda involved her in a series of kilig skits in every episode of Miss Q & A, where she used to be the one who hands the questions to the contenders.
Donna Cariaga
Instead of crying over the love ‘hugots’ she delivered everyday as one of the contenders of the second season of “Funny One”, we couldn’t help but laugh with her hilarious tales about her ex-boyfriend “James” and moving on from their painful breakup. Her “sob story” became her ticket to winning the competition.
She eventually became a part of the It’s Showtime family as a segment was dedicated for her, dubbed “Donna What To Do, Donna What To Say,” wherein she went on to make us laugh with her funny stories and ‘hugots’. She appeared in the top-rating primetime series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano as Doray.
Juliana Parizcova Segovia
Ever since his first day on the inaugural season of Miss Q & A pageant, Juliana Parizcova Segovia immediately became a fan favorite not only because of her striking beauty, not to mention being one-toothed, but with his astounding wit in responding to every question hurled at him. Thus, there’s no doubt that he was declared as the first-ever grand winner.
He already appeared in a number of Kapamilya programs, such as Maalaala Mo Kaya and FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
TNT Boys
Before taking the world by storm through their powerful vocals, Mackie Empuerto, Keifer Sanchez, and Francis Concepcion were among the top finalists of Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids in 2017. Keifer was declared the runner up, Mackie in third place, and Francis in fifth.
They might not have won the competition, but they’re able to captivate a lot of people as “the cutest boyband on the planet”, including international celebrities like James Corden, Steve Harvey, Jessie J, Ellen DeGeneres, and Ariana Grande, ever since their rendition of Beyonce’s “Listen.” It was the song Vice Ganda told them to sing during their guesting in Gandang Gabi Vice which went viral that same year.
They later on became the champions in the sophomore season of Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids and even had their first-ever major concert in November 2018. A documentary about their whirlwind journey to global stardom is now streaming on ABS-CBN’s iWant app.
Janine Berdin
From being a promising child actress in her younger years, Janine Berdin later on saw herself in a different path as she turned out to be the one of the finest singers the local music scene has at present. After dominating the Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 2, she became a part of the It’s Showtime family as one of the hosts of “Showtime Online” and is the voice behind Kadenang Ginto’s OST “Nasa Puso”.
Enzo Pelojero
Before we admired him as the mischievous yet reliable best friend Bingo in the 2017 primetime series My Dear Heart and currently as the kindhearted Buboy in Starla, Enzo initially got us smitten with his cuteness as the mini Daniel Padilla of Mini Me Season 2. Finishing as a runner-up to Xia Vigor, they both became part of the noontime show as extra cast members to the Sine Mo ‘To segment.
Ion Perez
Last, but definitely not the least, is the ‘apple of the eye’ of the Unkabogable Star who immediately charmed him on their first meeting last year. From being just the “Kuya Escort” who would send in and out the Miss Q & A contestants on-stage, he became one of the most highly anticipated figures on the program, not to mention his snazzy moves to the Brownman Revival song “Lintik”.