Don’t count her out yet

There’s life after reality TV. Pinoy Dream Academy first evictee Gemma Fitzgerald believes this and is finding the road to that life – perhaps a showbiz or a recording career.

Although first to be booted out, Gemma is positive and determined to find her own niche in showbiz. She says she is the type who sees the brighter side of everything and shuns sulking when frustrated.

Besides, Gemma is not the first reality-talent search contestant to experience such a fate. There are Pinoy Big Brother alumni Rico Barrera and Mikki Arceo, who appeared in Kapamilya shows right after the eviction. Sometimes, runners-up or underdogs lead in the long run. Take the case of Star in a Million contestants Sheryn Regis and Christian Bautista. They were as visible as top winner Erik Santos after the show wrapped up. Recording contracts, TV guestings and appearances came their way, too.

As they say, "To each is own."

"I never expected it," says Gemma of her early hiatus from the Academy. "I think it was my time to leave and it was meant to happen. I never dwell on the negative."

Her exit left many shocked and surprised. How can someone blessed with singing and dancing talents and striking looks be stricken out from a pool of scholars?

In the first eviction, Gemma could be the last choice among Kristoff, Oona and Rosita who were also nominated for expulsion. Gemma says Rosita was also a strong candidate for expulsion that night.

In reality TV shows like this, text votes count and no one is indispensable up to the last minute. It is a show full of surprises.

Asked what she thinks made the judges and televiewers decide on booting her out, Gemma’s reply it’s her inability to speak Tagalog. Back home in New South Wales, Australia, Gemma is accustomed to speaking in English. This is something Gemma did not foresee early on.

During expulsion week, however, she was seen telling her fellow scholars and even head master Jim Paredes that she had a hard time speaking in Filipino. Televiewers witnessed how she struggled and how frustrated she was in learning Tagalog.

"I would like to enter showbiz via soaps, drama and TV shows," says Gemma of her immediate plans. (She recently guested in Studio 23’s Wazzup, Wazzup.)

This is not surprising because Gemma is into musical theater and singing contemporary, ballad and pop songs. She auditioned in the Australian version of Miss Saigon and is still awaiting the results. Natalie Cole, Alicia Keys and Carol Banawa are her musical influences. Gemma, 20, has also front acted for shows back in Australia. She can sing and dance.

Gemma says she plans to join beauty contests and is aware of the Bb. Pilipinas and Mutya ng Pilipinas. With her Filipino and Australian blood, Gemma will surely give local girls a run of their money.

"I’m happy I made it to the Top 16," beams Gemma "If there are lessons I learned from my stay in the Academy, they are simply believing in my talent and thinking positive."