Which Star Search Top 24 Contestant Is The Most Popular On Instagram?
Your Instagram following does not define you but in this day and age, a star needs to have social media presence too.
It’s almost (almost) time to crown the next Zoe Tay or Chew Chor Meng now that the first of the Star Search 2019 semi-finals will be airing this Sunday. 12 of the Top 24 contestants will battle it out (quite literally, but you’ll have to watch the show to know what we mean) over three rounds that will test not just their acting abilities, but their stage presence and star quality as well. Grading the contestants on each round are three judges: veteran filmmaker Man Shu Sum, Taiwanese actress-host Phoebe Huang, and, for the first semis, Hongkong actor Bowie Lam. His former TVB colleague Bobby Au Yeung will take his place as judge for the second semis. Of the 12 competing this week, six contestants will be selected to compete in the grand finals on November 3 along with six from the second semis.
Ever since the Top 24 was announced in July, the contestants have been fast gaining popularity — some of them even have, not one, but two fan accounts on Instagram now. While we are well aware that the number of followers a person has shouldn’t decide his or her worth, we also all know how important a social media following is to a star these days — an acting newbie can be hired to star in a show simply because he is big on Instagram. Which is why we want to see how these hopefuls stack up against each other, at least before their numbers skyrocket once they become real famous.
Vanessa Ho (@vaneszs.h)
She was already the most-followed contestant with 63.8K followers even before the Top 24 was announced. And she now stands firmly on top of the leaderboard with 72.3K* followers. It may have something to do with the 20-year-old student being an influencer-DJ — the Martin Garrix kind, not the Jean Danker kind.
Gail Borjiet (@gail_boj), Lee Wen Honn (@wen_kang_) and Juin Teh (@juin66)
The platinum-haired Juin now has 13.5K followers. Interestingly, the 29-year-old started the competition with 16.3 followers, so she actually had a decrease in fans? Then there’s 26-year-old model Gail who started with 10.5K followers and now has 11.4k while 24-year-old former Hey! Gorgeous contestant Wen Honn saw his followers grow by a quarter, from 8.2K to 10.3K.
Teoh Ze Tong (@zetongteoh)
The 26-year-old sales assistant had a whopping 865% increase in followers since he joined Star Search. But there’s a reason for that. He started off with just 107 followers and now has 1033 followers.
With the exception of six contestants (including, surprise surprise, IG queen Vanessa Ho), the rest of the Top 24 all have at least one fan account on IG. But Zhai Si Ming (@zhaisiming), Jared Soh (@_okjared), Tyler Ten (@tylertennn), Lee Wen Honn, Teoh Zetong, Chang Hio Cheng (@ginichang), Kiki Lim (@kikilzt) and Sunny Xu (@sunny.xjh) have two dedicated fan accounts. We're not sure what that says about their fans but the more the merrier, we suppose?
Zhai Si Ming
The 22-year-old student, who also has a role in Toggle Original show Muay Thai Girl, has 116 followers on his fan account @flywithsiming. It may not seem like a lot compared to established stars but let’s not forget that these contestants are relative unknowns so it’s impressive that they have fans already.
*All the figures are accurate as of Oct 9 2019
Catch Star Search 2019 Semi-Finals 1 on Oct 6, 8pm on Ch 8 & Toggle (click here to watch) and the Semi-Finals 2 on Oct 13.
During the two Semis, Toggle will be screening a live camera feed of the three mentors —Christopher Lee, Chen Hanwei and Huang Biren — in their respective ‘war rooms’ where they will prep the contestants before they go on stage. So tune in to see how nervous the Star Search hopefuls are and what pearls of wisdom Chris and gang will impart to their young charges.
Star Search 2019 Grand Finals will air on Nov 3, 7.30pm on Ch 8 and Toggle. Both the Semi-Finals and Grand Finals will air simultaneously on Toggle and Ch 8.
For more on Star Search 2019, click here.
