Fil-Am Jessica Manalo joins Team Kelsea, ready for battle on ‘The Voice’
Jessica Manalo joins Team Kelsea. Photo from jessicamanalo/Instagram
In a season marked by historic firsts, Filipino American singer Jessica Manalo is quickly making her mark on “The Voice” as part of Team Kelsea Ballerini.
Hailing from Las Vegas, Manalo’s journey in music began at a young age when she played the trumpet in a jazz band which is a passion that has since evolved into a powerful vocal career.
Her recent performance on the show made the two coaches turn, positioning her as the Philippines’ bet this season.
Following the trailblazing win of Sofronio Vasquez – the first Asian and Filipino champion on the series – the Las Vegas-based Filipina stepped into the spotlight with an unforgettable blind audition with her rendition of Sam Smith’s “Unholy.”
Jessica Manalo / Screencap from The Voice/YouTube
Her entrance on the show was met with immediate enthusiasm, as noted by two of the celebrity coaches.
Michael Bublé, who had previously mentored Vasquez, and Ballerini were both quick to press their buttons when they heard her hit the chorus.
Manalo expressed her gratitude to fans in an Instagram post that resonated with her supporters. She wrote, “THANK YOU to everyone who tuned in on last nights episode of @nbcthevoice ! It’s been a long time coming holding in this secret! But it’s not so secret anymore!! Let’s gooo #teamkelsea !!! Seriously to my family and friends who came out last night. I love you. what a blast!!”
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Building anticipation for the next stage of the competition, Manalo shared another post hinting at her upcoming battles.
Accompanied by a photo of her entering the set, she captioned it, “Just walking into the biggest moment of my life what’s next?! BATTLES BABY!! Keep watching @nbcthevoice Monday nights to see what happens next!!”
With performances at big venues such as Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas and supporting roles for acts like Allen Stone and Bruno Major, Manalo is well-equipped to take on the challenges ahead and shine even brighter on the international stage.
Will she be the next Filipino winner?
