A Good Looking Batch Of Newcomers Introduced In 'Artista Academy'

THE TOP 16 finalists of TV5’s “Artista Academy” were officially introduced on Saturday night at 10 PM after “Untold Stories”: Akihiro Blanco (Pasig), Alberto Bruno (Marikina), Benjo Leoncio (Cebu), Brent Manzano (Quezon City), Chanel Morales (Bacolod), Chris Leonardo (Laguna), Jonathan Orlando (Quezon City), Julia Quisumbing (Makati), Malak So Shdifat (Manila), Mark Neumann (Quezon City), Marvelous Alejo (Valenzuela), Nicole Estrada (Pasig), Shaira Mae (Las Piñas City), Sophie Albert (Mandaluyong), Stephanie Rowe (Pampanga), and Vin Abrenica (Pampanga, the brother of GMA’s Aljur who’s the only one among brothers of other celebrities who made it).

They were presented to the press last Sunday at Broadway Centrum, with Valeen Montenegro as host. First, the boys did a dance number, then the girls, then they all danced together. They then answered questions from the press while on stage. Our question is: who do they think is their biggest rival and who would they like to be paired with as their love team.

Here are their answers. Akihiro: Biggest rival – Vin. Love team – Nicole. Vin – Brent & Benjo. Sophie. Brent – Vin. Sophie. Albert – Akihiro. Stephanie. Chris – Mark & Benjo. Sophie. Jonathan – Mark. Julia. Benjo - Akihiro & Mark. Sophie. Mark – Vin, Chris & Brent. Shaira & Sophie. Julia – Chanel, Marvelous & Sophie. Jonathan. Nicole – Marvelous. Akihiro. Malak – Chanel. Alberto. Sophie – Chanel. Vin & Benjo. Marvelous – Chanel. Brent. Stephanie – Chanel. Vin & Albert. Chanel – Julia & Malak. Vin & Mark. Shaira – Chanel & Sophie. Vin & Mark.

It’s easy to see that the boys mostly prefer Sophie to be their ka-love team while the girls think Chanel is the biggest threat to them. Sophie is 5’6” and 21 years old. She considers herself as “one of the boys” but looks more like the girl next door.

Chanel is 5’4”, born and raised in Bacolod. A Lovi Poe lookalike, she looks even lovelier up close. Definitely star material. Born on October 13, 1995, she finished high school in St. Scho Bacolod and is now a nursing freshman at UST. An only child, her parents own an antique shop in Bacolod. She’s been taking ballet and jazz lessons since she was 3 and voice since she’s 8. She acted in school plays and did modelling jobs in Bacolod. She has never had a BF and is definitely a formidable opponent as she sings, acts and dances well.

Here now are our top three personal faves among them. Boys: Benjo, Brent and Mark. Girl: Chanel, Marvelous and Sophie. We also like Steph, but at 5’8”, she’s better off joining a beauty pageant.