Stardom beckons: Tiffany Ho 何睿烔 crowned champion of Star Search 2024 才华横溢出新秀2024
Singapore, 24 November 2024 – Tonight, dreams become reality as Tiffany Ho 何睿烔 emerged victorious in the grand finale of Mediacorp’s iconic talent discovery programme Star Search 2024 才华横溢出新秀2024. In a competition designed to uncover the elusive X-factor, Tiffany proved she had it in abundance, earning the title of Grand Champion, a sleek BYD electric vehicle and a Mediacorp contract, cementing her place as the next rising star in the local entertainment industry.
This triumphant result was unveiled after a three-hour showdown at The Theatre at Mediacorp. Hosted by the dynamic duo of Quan Yifong 权怡凤 and Jeff Goh, the live show saw the Top 12 finalists battling it out in four thrilling segments, weighted as follows: X-Factor Showcase 明星魅力 (25%), Body Expression 肢体动作 (15%), Spontaneous Eloquence 临场反应 (30%) and Acting 演技 (30%). Kicking things off was the X-Factor Showcase, which saw contestants impressing with feats ranging from daring stunts and gravity-defying breakdance moves to stunning performances of Hokkien opera and voice acting for period dramas. Energy levels continued to soar with the Body Expression segment, featuring two visually stunning routines by the contestants – City of Lights and Carnival. The twist? The dance acts were not merely about choreography as they incorporated storylines that demanded contestants convey emotion and narratives through facial expressions and body language, making it a test of their ability to blend motion and rhythm with storytelling.
Next came the Spontaneous Eloquence round. In a spirited test of wit and improvisation, contestants sparred playfully with a star-studded panel of Mediacorp artistes, including Desmond Tan 陈泂江, Richie Koh 许瑞奇, Kym Ng 鐘琴, Carrie Wong 黄思恬, Hong Ling 洪凌 and more – all reprising their iconic roles, drawing laughs and cheers from audiences. Building to a dramatic climax, the Acting segment saw the premiere of short films Theatre of Life 人生剧场and Theatre of Talent 才华剧场, each starring six contestants and Star Search alumni Lina Ng 黄嫊方and Andie Chen 陈邦鋆 in supporting roles. Directed by Cho Jun Ming 曹峻铭and Jun Chong 张峻峰respectively, these films provided the perfect canvas for contestants to showcase their emotional depth and screen presence.
Presiding over the night’s electrifying face-offs was an illustrious panel of judges, comprising celebrated Hong Kong actress and producer Sandra Ng 吳君如, Asian TV award-winning actor and singer Raymond Lam 林峯, and regional Best Actor Christopher Lee 李铭顺. The intense competition made the judges’ job a difficult one, but Tiffany’s stage presence and magnetic charisma ultimately shone the brightest, propelling her to victory. Sharing the spotlight were Gladys Bay 马䲰娗 and 仲伟杰 Jona Chung who claimed second and third place respectively. As a tribute to their exceptional achievements, the three rising stars were each awarded a BYD car – the Seal, Atto 3 and Dolphin respectively – driving home their hard-earned victories.
Angeline Poh, Chief Customer and Corporate Development Officer, Mediacorp said: “Heartiest congratulations to Tiffany for winning the competition with a brilliant display of talent and charisma, and to Gladys and Jona for their well-deserved places among the top three. To all our finalists, thank you for sharing your journey with us over these four months. We can’t wait to see where your passion and talent will take you next.”
Added Ms Poh, “Competitions like Star Search prove that Singapore has many aspiring creative talent with great potential. Mediacorp is committed to being a platform to spot and nurture such budding talent, so that they may live their dream and fulfil their potential.”
The Grand Final of Star Search 2024 was not only a platform for talent discovery, but also a dazzling showcase of show-stopping entertainment. The evening kicked off with an electrifying performance by Desmond Ng 黄振隆, who delivered a bold rock rendition of iconic Star Search anthem 飞高梦远. Backed by a live band, his performance was synchronised with the striking introduction of the Top 12 Finalists. As the evening unfolded, Tasha Low 刘怡伶 lit up the stage with a special performance of her latest single Everything You Wanted, combining stunning vocals with her signature charisma to add to the night’s atmosphere of celebration and achievement.
These guest performances follow a steady stream of innovative show elements throughout the series, including the surprise appearances of Yeo Yann Yann 杨雁雁 and Qi Yuwu 戚玉武 as Star Mentors 星级导师to the Top 12 finalists; and introduction of more than 10 industry icons as instructors across a series of intensive workshops. Ranging from Expression and Communication to Acting and Stage Presence & Body Movement, these equipped contestants with the skills, poise and confidence to deliver compelling performances on the grand stage.
Virginia Lim, Chief Content Officer, Mediacorp said: “It has been an incredible journey for Star Search 2024. From the open auditions to the contestants’ powerful performances this evening, every detail of the show was thoughtfully crafted to discover, nurture and showcase the extraordinary talent of tomorrow’s stars while providing top-tier entertainment for audiences. We are proud of what this platform represents, and remain committed to building even more stages that empower and entertain.”
The five-episode curated series of Star Search 2024, which chronicles the contestants’ journeys from open auditions and masterclasses to the Semi- and Grand-Final is available on-demand via mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel, where fans will also find playlists of exclusive behind-the-scenes content that offer a closer look at their experiences. Fans can also catch the repeat telecast of the Grand Final on Channel 8 on 30 November, 3.30pm to 6.30pm.
For more information, please visit www.mediacorp.sg/starsearch2024
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Lim Zi Ai
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ziai.lim@mediacorp.com.sg
Chua Pauline
Communications Specialist
chuapauline@mediacorp.com.sg
