Comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto revealed that she almost walked away from ‘Your Face Sounds Familiar’ after feeling emotionally overwhelmed, making her recent victory on the show even more meaningful.
During the ninth week of the current season, Rufa Mae finally clinched her first win after transforming into American singer-songwriter Fergie. Her heartfelt rendition of ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ earned her a standing ovation from the judges and fellow celebrity performers.
Guest judge Karla Estrada praised Rufa Mae for revealing a different side of her artistry.
“Nakita nila na ang galing mo ring kumanta, may quality ang voice mo kapag nagseryoso ka… naramdaman ka namin,” she said.
Vocal mentor and guest judge Klarisse de Guzman echoed the sentiment, noting how the comedienne surprised everyone with her emotional depth.
“Sanay na sanay kami na ikaw ang nagpapasaya sa amin. Pero ang nakita ko ngayon puso at emosyon,” she shared.
Meanwhile, resident judge Gary Valenciano admitted he was caught off guard by Rufa Mae’s serious and committed performance.
“Kapag sineryoso mo, may maibubuga kang kakaiba… tatawa na nga sila, papalakpak pa sila,” he said.
Rufa Mae took home a plaque and ₱50,000, but said the emotional fulfillment mattered more than the prize.
“Alam mo, kuntento na ako kahit isang beses lang. Thank you mga Ka-Familiars!” she said.
Even before being declared the winner, the actress had already become emotional, opening up about the personal struggles she faced while competing. She shared that she joined the show during a painful period in her life, having lost her husband just months earlier.
“Parang hindi ko na kayang ituloy kasi ang daming nangyayari sa akin,” she admitted. “Pero sabi ko, paano ko iiwan sila? Ang bubuting tao ng mga ito… kahit hindi pa ako nanalo, panalo na ako sa pakiramdam dahil sa inyo.”
Rufa Mae also expressed gratitude to the ‘Your Face Sounds Familiar’ production team and ABS-CBN, saying the show became a source of comfort and healing for her.
In the upcoming episode, Rufa Mae is set to impersonate OPM rock icon Kitchie Nadal, while other contestants will take on transformations including Vhong Navarro, Gwen Stefani, and Ricky Martin.
