Joemarie Nielsen - Turning 22 on October 3, this 6-footer was a Mr. Pogi semi-finalist in “Eat Bulaga” and a finalist in the last Starstruck. He was quickly given acting jobs in “Magpakailanman” and “That’s My Amboy”. His mom is Pinay but his dad is Thai. “I never met my father,” he says. “And my mom won’t talk about him. She got married with an American na Nielsen ang family name and he formally adopted me kaya naging Nielsen ang apelyido ko. They have one son, then my stepdad died. My mom remarried and I now have two smaller siblings, aged 4 and 5.” He’s been singing since he was a child and also plays the guitar. He is one of the band’s four soloists, along with Ralf King, Yasser Mata and Brent Valdez.
Ralf King - He was 11 years old when he won in Pop Star Kids in 2007. As a teener he was a finalist in “Bet ng Bayan” and “Asia’s Got Talent”. He also did small roles in soaps like “Nita Negrita” and “Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat”. The youngest of three kids, he is from Sultan Kudarat in Cotabato and his parents still live there while he’s now staying with his elder sister here in Manila. He’s taking up tourism management at Colegio de San Lorenzo and is graduating this October. “Ayaw po kasi ng parents ko na mag-stop ako sa pag-aaral,” he says. His showbiz crush is Kylie Padilla.
Kevin Sagra - He’s from Davao, turned 21 last June 16 and used to be a member of a band called Not Taken Today. He was in third year, taking up financial management at San Pedro College Davao, when he joined Starstruck last year. The second of three kids, he stands 5’9” and made it to the top ten. He now stays in a condo unit that GMA-7 got for him and other GMA newcomers. He was quickly cast playing supporting roles in soaps like “Hanggang Makita Kang Muli” and “That’s My Amboy”. He also did an episode in “Magpakailanman” with Jay Arcilla. While here in Manila, he also wants to take up culinary arts so he’ll have a fallback in case his career in showbiz won’t prosper
Brent Valdez - He’s one of the youngest in the group as he just turned 19 on March 3. He hails from Imus, Cavite and is a business management sophomore at La Salle Dasmarinas, Cavite. He likes to sing ballads, like the songs of Michael Buble, but he’s now learning more contemporary pop songs to be in with his co-singers in One UP. He has also tried acting in a soap when he did “Once Again”.
