With Jessica Sanchez’s impressive second-place finish at the 11th American Idol, more and more young girls are inspired to follow in her footsteps to someday be crowned the first minority American Idol — that is, if ever it’s possible because, according to some analysts, a non-American contestant may never be declared winner. “Kasi nga,” said one of them, “American Idol kaya natural lang na American ang papapanalunin. Unless, the title would be changed to Asian-American Idol.” Makes sense, doesn’t it?
But then, who can tell?
According to Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre, one kid who is a shoo-in for AI someday is New Jersey Fil-Am girl Lianah Sta. Ana who at age 12 is already a veteran of talent competitions. Maybe in the 12th season of American Idol in 2014?
Reported Edmund, “The dusky teen already collected highest awards and accolades from big-time singing competitions across the United States, including the famous Apollo Night at New York’s Apollo Theater in 2010. Apollo is sending Lianah to London this July to perform.”
Known as “The Soul of American Culture,” the Apollo Night is Apollo Theater’s signature talent contest held nearly every Wednesday night since 1934 at its historic theater in Harlem, New York. It has launched the singing careers of legendary artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Smokie Robinson, Luther Vandross, the Isley Brothers, Michael Jackson, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Gladys Knight and even Alicia Keys.
Added Edmund, “Apollo is bringing a taste of Harlem to London’s Hackney Empire as up-and-coming vocalists from Harlem and Hackney compete at the ‘Amateur Night Goes To London,’ coinciding with the 2012 Summer Olympics. The final showdown on July 14 will feature Lianah as a guest artist and an Apollo alumna.”
Lianah, who was crowned as one of the two top winners at the 2010 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles (the same tilt won years ago by Jed Madela), has recently performed at the Trollbeads Troll Awards at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas and is scheduled to appear at Time Warner’s 31st annual Andrew Heiskell Awards at the Time Warner Center in Manhattan this month. She’s also slated to grace the Philippine Independence Day parade and festival in Manhattan on June 3, together with Broadway artist Anna Maria Perez de Tagle and Kapuso stars Dingdong Dantes, Aljur Abrenica and Rachelle Ann Go to entertain a huge crowd expected to exceed last year’s 100,000.
Nathan and Nailah Sta. Ana said their daughter has set her sights on the American Idol, but noted she still has four years to go before she qualifies to audition for the wildly popular reality search.
“She’s really prepping for the American Idol,” the couple admitted. “She’s inspired by Jessica Sanchez that’s why she’s very serious at what she’s doing to learn what is there to learn. She’s also been getting voice lessons.”
In 2010, Lianah joined America’s biggest Thanksgiving Day Parade by Macy’s in New York and rode the Apollo Theater float with Grammy-winning singer Gladys Knight. She later won the grand prize at the Kidz Bop Sports Jamz Talent Search during the NBA New York Knicks halftime show at Madison Square Garden, and the New Jersey statewide competition Rock’n Music Idol (both in her category and overall).
Last year, Lianah released on iTunes her first original song and music video Pass the Word...Pass It On, a song for world peace and love which she herself wrote. She has several video clips on YouTube, including guestings and actual competitions, that showcase her talent.
Binibinis-in-waiting
There’s always a second chance. Next time around, they might bring home the crown like what their predecessors did, one of them Dianne Necio who placed first runner-up to Venus Raj in 2010 and won Bb. Pilipinas-International when she joined again in 2011.
There’s hope for Elaine Kay Moll (20, 5’10” tall), 2012 Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up, a Business Management junior at National University who hails from Catarman, Northern Samar; and Annalie Forbes (19, 5’5” tall), 2012 Bb. Pilipinas second runner-up (and La Bulakeña 2011 and Miss Makati 2011 first runner-up), a professional lounge singer managed by Claire dela Fuente and who is from Malolos City, Bulacan.
Here’s a brief Q&A conducted by Funfare’s “beauty expert” Francis Calubaquib:
What do you think the judges saw in you?
Elaine: Maybe how I carried myself. I’m thankful that I’m blessed with height. I used to be conscious about it but now I use it to my advantage as a member of Lady Bulldogs, my school’s basketball team, as a model and now as a beauty queen.
Annalie: I think it was my confidence and grace under pressure. I found it hard at first to understand the judge’s question because of the noise at the Araneta Coliseum but I regained my composure when I saw the encouraging gestures of my family and friends. By God’s grace, I was able to answer the question.
Runners-up in past pageants won when they competed again. Would you consider such option?
Elaine: Why not? But definitely not so soon, not next year. I want to finish my studies. I’m willing to help aspiring beauty queens achieve their dream by sharing my wonderful experience as a Binibini.
Annalie: No comment. In the meantime, I just want to enjoy this Binibini experience. We never know what God’s plan for us is. I’m happy to have finished a runner-up and I want to live up to the expectations of those who supported and loved me from the beginning.
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)