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It was during the MTV Video Music Awards in 2001 when global pop culture icon Britney Spears did her controversial live performance of her massive hit “I’m A Slave 4 U,” which has been considered one of the several acts that stood out as iconic not just in the history of the said awards show but probably even in the entire show business.
And 24 years later, we witnessed that legendary live moment of the Princess of Pop being impeccably recreated by the amazingly talented Alexa Ilacad in Week 4 of “Your Face Sounds Familiar Season 4,” who was only one year old when Britney shocked the world with that highly talked about production number.
WATCH: Alexa Ilacad earns a standing ovation with her powerful Britney Spears tribute | YFSF 2025
From her physical transformation and costume to her grooves and vocals—not to mention having a snake draped around her neck—her revival of that epic performance was totally spot on! Thus, there’s absolutely no surprise that she didn’t just manage to survive the performance, but she was also even declared the weekly winner by the end of the fourth round!
WATCH: Alexa Ilacad tops the leaderboard with her spot-on Britney Spears impression | YFSF 2025
For sure, many are curious how our beloved “Gen Z Total Performer” was able to pull off that incredible production. So, ABS-CBN Studios caught up with her immediately after her performance, and she enthusiastically opened up about how she felt about her first win, her preparations, and her showdown with her “Battle of One Icon” rival Jason Dy during the interview.
On becoming Britney and winning Week 4
“Para ba akong nanalo sa lotto,” she quipped when asked how she feels about dominating Week 4. “Of course, I'm really happy because it takes a lot of effort to transform and to even attempt to copy an icon. Hindi lang kita pero puro pasa na ‘yong legs ko ngayon. But I'm so happy and it always feels like it’s worth it naman, pero siyempre iba talaga ‘yong fulfilment kapag talagang nanalo.”
Even though she did a great job in her performance, Alexa revealed that she actually didn’t have any expectations that she would win. She firmly believes that “Your Face Sounds Familiar” is “anybody’s game every week” because they are judged based either on their voice, appearance, movements, or all of the above. At the same time, it’s all about luck when it comes to the icon that they would pick since there are other artists who are impossible to impersonate.
She disclosed how excited she was when she learned that it was Britney whom she would portray in Week 4 since Britney is one of those artists whom she tries to copy but only when she’s alone. Besides, she also likes transforming into performers who sing and dance at the same time, since she feels like doing so helps her to improve herself and to prove that she indeed deserves to be given the “Total Performer” title.
When quizzed if there was something about her performance that she would like to change or if she wished to be able to redo it, she confessed that she actually didn’t feel her performance and it simply passed by, just like what happened in her previous stints. Furthermore, she tends to go blank and not see nor hear anyone except herself whenever she’s onstage.
“Although, of course, as an artist lagi kang may feeling na, ‘it could have been better.’ That's the case naman all the time, to always do better naman. But for Britney, because it was such a hard song, and to dance and to sing with a snake, I think ‘yong ginawa ko is the best I could have done,” she told ABS-CBN Studios.
On her preparations for the “I’m A Slave 4 U” act
Unlike her previous stints in which she really exerted a lot of effort by walking on the treadmill while singing a particular song of her icon to strengthen her lungs and undergoing dance classes or workshops, just like what she did for her transformation to Korean pop idol and BLACKPINK member Jennie Kim in Week 3, wherein she almost won, Alexa revealed that it didn’t happen for her “I’m A Slave 4 U” act.
Alexa divulged that she actually only had one day to get ready for her “I’m A Slave 4 U” act since she only arrived in Manila all the way from Canada the day before the Week 4 taping. It can be recalled that she was among the Kapamilya artists to grace the “ASAP in Vancouver” show that took place last October.
Since that was the case, the only preparation she was able to carry out was by practicing the song as much as she could upon getting the icon and listening to the songs of Britney during her plane ride to Canada. She also went on to imagine the choreography while taking a shower and to try singing “I’m A Slave 4 U” whenever she was out with her friends, who would laugh at her.
With how she only had a very short time to prepare for her Britney transformation, she really found it crazy to be the one to win the fourth round.
Meanwhile, with regard to the spine-tingling experience of dancing with the Burmese python, which name she revealed was actually “Madonna,” Alexa imparted that she only got to meet it on the very day of the taping. Thankfully, the gigantic yet gentle serpent was well-behaved, which made it easier for her to work with it.
While it could have been terrifying, she disclosed that her fear subsided when she was assured during the safety briefing that “Madonna” was non-venomous and that there were well-equipped medics around to attend to her just in case something unexpected transpired.
On the most memorable and most challenging parts of becoming Britney
Given the little amount of time she had to decently prepare for her performance, she revealed that the only thing running through her mind while she was onstage was, “Ah, bahala na si Batman.” She didn’t have any expectations and was ready for whatever the result might be. Thus, she was immensely happy and relieved when it was officially announced that she was the winner.
While her recreation of Britney Spears’ controversial “I’m A Slave 4 U” performance can go down in the history of “Your Face Sounds Familiar” as one of the most remarkable performances, what Alexa finds memorable about it was none other than doing it with “Madonna,” whom she even considered as her lucky charm.
“I honestly love every minute with that snake. Ayoko nga siyang ibalik eh, nag-enjoy ako sa kanya. Cute-cute niya,” she quipped. However, in spite of being fond of “Madonna,” she doesn’t consider adopting it or other serpents like it since it’s her mom’s biggest fear. She went on to impart how angry her mother was at her, to the point that she didn’t want her to go to work upon learning that she had to use a real python for her performance out of fright that Alexa would get harmed.
Just when it was probably assumed by many that dancing with a snake was the most challenging part for her, she revealed that it was actually her costume that made it tougher because she was actually uncomfortable in it. It became her dilemma since she was hesitating on whether to go all out with her moves or not. As this writer told her that she didn’t appear to be struggling onstage, she simply remarked, “My motto in life: fake it till you make it.”
On her showdown with Jason Dy as Britney Spears
For the fourth season of “Your Face Sounds Familiar,” it was not only the new set of celebrity performers that was introduced, but also the new and exciting twist called “Battle of One Icon,” in which two artists will have to impersonate a common icon but will have to take on two different songs.
WATCH: Alexa and Jason face off in a stunning Britney Spears performance | YFSF 2025
And for its first-ever iteration, she was pitted against Jason Dy, who brought to life one of Britney’s live presentations of her massive hit “Toxic.” When asked how she felt about it, Alexa related, “Nanginig ako sa totoo lang kasi ang hirap na nga gumaya ng icon tapos may kalaban ka pang exact same icon. Parang mas nakakanginig eh. Pero sabi ko nga, for fun. Gawin lang natin ‘to for fun and, ‘yon nga, I really enjoyed being co-Britneys with Jason. For me, ang perfect niya. Perfect siyang maging co-Britney ko.”
It was also Jason’s performance that she considered as one of her favorites for Week 4 because of how Jason nailed it despite being a man. She really finds it crazy how he was able to achieve and sustain Britney’s distinctive “vocal fry,” as well as her sultry moves.
She conveyed, “It was such a threat and honor to be co-Britneys with him, but that was fun as in. Macha-challenge ka talaga kasi ‘yong kalaban mo ang galing-galing.”
When asked what she thought had made her version of Britney win over Jason’s, she said that her only edge over him could be that she’s a female, which probably made it easier for her to move and sing like their icon.
On what she learned from this particular performance
Her work trip to Canada for the “ASAP in Vancouver” show might have made it impossible for her to thoroughly prepare for her Britney performance, but being with her “ASAP” family, particularly with Concert King Martin Nievera, made her realize something important about performing.
“I’m actually the type of artist or person na sobra akong perfectionist sa sarili ko, na kapag may feeling ako na hindi nasunod sa plinano ko sa performance, talagang nalulugmok ako. I would beat myself up about it talaga. Like I could have done better. Laging gano’n,” she admitted. “Pero sabi ni Tito Martin, ‘If you make a mistake, it was meant to be.’ Kumbaga ‘yong point niya is ano man ang mangyari sa stage, kahit magkamali-mali na ako, pumiyok ako, it was meant to be. ‘Yon ang will ni God.”
She continued, “Kahit sobrang hirap tanggapin no’n, tama siya eh. I can only do so much, and kung ‘yon ang plano ni Lord, kung ‘yon ang meant to be, I’m gonna have to accept. So, after niyang sinabi ‘yon, para akong natanggalan ng tinik sa lalamunan kasi feeling ko, kung magkamali man ako, hindi pa end of the world. And that’s something I have to think about here.”
Alexa was able to immediately apply that learning to her preparations for this particular performance, relating that she actually just studied the lyrics of “I’m A Slave 4 U” a few hours before showtime and she even committed a lot of mistakes during the rehearsals. But instead of worrying, she simply told herself that those were meant to happen.
Catch the next performances of the Gen Z Total Performer Alexa Ilacad and the rest of talented celebrity performers of "Your Face Sounds Familiar," every Saturday and Sunday evening on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, TV5 and iWant.