In an alternate timeline, these stars would have added “reality show contestant” to their CVs.
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Despite what pop culture may show, celebrities don’t always have a gilded path to stardom. Many weren’t just handed their careers and had to work their way up, and that meant their paths took a few interesting twists and turns. For a few stars, that manifested in auditioning for but ultimately not getting accepted to reality competition shows. And while stardom was in their forecast, being a reality show contestant was not. Scroll down for a few Filipino stars who tried their hand at reality TV.
NADINE LUSTRE
INSTAGRAM/NADINE
Can you imagine Nadine Lustre as a PBB housemate? If the producers of PBB Teen Clash thought differently, that was a possibility. A then 17-year-old Nadine initially went to the auditions for the 2010 iteration of the show to accompany a friend, but she eventually auditioned as well. It’s honestly crazy to think that if things just went a bit differently, Teen Clash would have been a wild season.
GABBI GARCIA
INSTAGRAM/GABBI
Gabbi Garcia has worn many hats throughout her career. Actress, endorser, vlogger, foodie, beauty queen, businesswoman, and even StarStruck hopeful. The morena star once shared on her Instagram stories that back in 2004, she auditioned to be part of StarStruck Kids at SM Sta. Mesa, but didn’t pass.
ALDEN RICHARDS
INSTAGRAM/ALDENRICHARDS02
PBB Teen Clash in 2010 produced quite a few big stars, most notably a then 17-year-old James Reid, who won the season. But if fate moved in another direction, there would have been even more future A-listers as houseguests, such as Alden Richards. Alden, who also tried his luck in the fifth season of StarStruck but only reached the Top 60, auditioned for Teen Clash but failed to make it to the final lineup.
MAINE MENDOZA
INSTAGRAM/MAINEDCM
2015 was a big year for Maine Mendoza, to put it mildly. It was the year she appeared on Eat Bulaga as Yaya Dub, and you probably know what happened next. But there was a chance the actress and host would have had her big break on another show, PBB. Back then, she was just a 20-year-old culinary arts graduate who auditioned for PBB 737 in 2015, the same season that featured soon-to-be stars Barbie Imperial, Ylona Garcia, Bailey May, and Jameson Blake. Maine didn’t make the cut, but life did have other plans for her.
IVANA ALAWI
INSTAGRAM/IVANAALAWI
Every time a new iteration of PBB holds auditions, thousands of hopefuls spend hours for the chance to make it as a housemate and potentially begin the rest of their lives. Such was the case for Ivana Alawi, who was no stranger to rejection when she first moved to the Philippines. In a past interview, Ivana revealed she was in the 10,000 mark in her PBB audition. She actually got shortlisted but failed to make it to the callback.
VICE GANDA
INSTAGRAM/PRAYBEYTBENJAMIN
With her quick wit and humor, you would think that Vice Ganda would be a shoo-in as a PBB housemate. But that wasn’t the case when the actress, host, and comedian shared that she tried out for the inaugural Celebrity Edition of the reality series back in 2006 but didn’t make it to the final cut. Later on, Vice would eventually become a celebrity houseguest, but we’d highkey watch a season with Vice as a regular housemate.
JACKIE GONZAGA
INSTAGRAM/JACKIEGIRLG
Before Jackie Gonzaga was known and loved by the Madlang People on It’s Showtime, she was once a PBB auditionee who braved long lines to become one of Kuya’s official housemates. At the time, she was a dancer on It’s Showtime and was asked by her fellow dancers to audition as well. Is a stint at a future Celebrity Edition in Jackie’s cards? We’ll have to wait and see.
Continue Reading: 9 Celebs You Probably Didn’t Know Were Once In A Reality Competition Show
