With her striking KZ Tandingan vibe (switching back to black after the wild blue hair color in the previous rounds), Vyan dela Cruz's insane scatting and vocal runs had the "It's Showtime" studio erupting in cheers during the "KalokaLike Face 4" Ultimate Face-Off on Saturday, November 23.
There's no doubt about it—she flawlessly channeled KZ's looks, and to top it off, she embodied the Asia's Soul Supreme's powerful stage presence and unique vocal style as well. All of these combined brought Vyan the grand prize, becoming the fourth Ultimate KalokaLike in "It's Showtime" history.
We caught up with Vyan after her winning moment, and to our surprise, she also exuded the same humble and unassuming spirit that KZ is known for.
When asked how she felt when her name was called as the champion, Vyan said she was completely surprised, as everything happened quickly that she didn't even realize the hosts were already announcing the winners. "Nagulat ako kaya napaiyak na lang ako sa gitna,” she recalled.
Before performing on stage, a VTR was shown where Vyan introduced her husband and kids, who she considers her inspiration throughout her "KalokaLike" journey, along with her parents and relatives. And now that the contest has wrapped up, she's excited to head home to La Union after nearly a week of stay in Manila for the finals. She couldn't wait to reunite with her two-year-old child and catch up on some much-needed family time.
As for her plans with the Php300,000 prize money, Vyan admits she's still unsure, still caught up in the happiness and shock of her win. But one thing she's certain about is that it will be for her family, and her father's medication. Apart from the cash prize, she also received a trophy and artista package.
As a singer and a huge KZ fan herself, Vyan didn't find it difficult to impersonate KZ. She had already sung KZ’s songs multiple times, which helped her bring out the soul and energy to make her performance truly stand out.
Before she even took the crown on "KalokaLike," Vyan had a 'winning' moment when she got to video call her idol, KZ, with Vice Ganda's help during her semifinal appearance. Now that her KZ impersonation has been a hit, Vyan wanted to thank KZ, saying she wouldn’t have been in the competition at all if it weren't for KZ's influence.
"Sinasabi kasi nila na kamukha kita, nataon siguro na kumakanta rin ako. Salamat kasi ikaw ang inspirasyon ko simula no'ng sumali ako dito," she expressed when asked her message for KZ.