Two more Filipinas are poised to make their debut as members of a K-pop girl group.
Gehlee Dangca, 16, and Jin Hyeon Ju, a 22-year-old Filipino-Korean, have successfully secured spots in the final lineup of the K-pop girl group UNIS. The group was formed through the SBS survival show Universe Ticket.
Gehlee and Hyeon Ju will be joining Elisia Parmisano, 14, who was the first candidate to secure a debut spot on January 10, 2024.
[🎥] Say Hello to 'UNIS'!👋
— Universe Ticketï½œìœ ë‹ˆë²„ìŠ¤ 티켓 (@_universeticket) January 17, 2024
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In the show’s finale last Wednesday, January 17, Gehlee was announced as the fourth group member after amassing an impressive 2,464,526 fan votes.
Hyeon Ju, also known as Belle from the K-pop girl group Cignature, completed the lineup by garnering 496,797 votes.
Elisia, Gehlee, and Hyeon Ju are set to debut alongside fellow members Bang Yunha (South Korea), Nana (Japan), Lim Seowon (South Korea), Oh Yoona (South Korea), and Kotoko (Japan).
Universe Ticket kicked off its broadcast in November 2023, showcasing 82 aspiring K-pop idols from various corners of the globe, spanning Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, China, Canada, Australia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
The contestants, hailing from diverse backgrounds, navigated through a series of challenging missions, all vying for the coveted spots in a newly formed K-pop girl group.
These hopefuls showcased their talents and faced evaluations from the show’s esteemed panel, affectionately known as the ‘unicorns.’ The panel included iconic figures in K-pop such as Hyoyeon from Girls’ Generation, Kim Se Jeong, Younha, as well as Yeji and Chaeryeong from ITZY, alongside Rian and Adora.
In this vibrant mix, Elisia, Gehlee, and Hyeon Ju emerge as the latest Filipino talents to make their mark in the K-pop scene, joining the ranks of other Filipino talents like Chantal Videla a.k.a. Chanty from the K-pop girl group Lapillus, Sophia Laforteza of KATSEYE, and the all-Pinoy boy band HORI7ON.
