Barbz, assemble! Nicki Minaj is known as one of the world’s best-selling female rappers, and her iconic hits are proof of that. From serving us laid-back raps to tracks that instantly get us hyped wherever they’re played, Nicki is definitely one of the artists we would love to hear all over again.
The party lives on with these 6 unforgettable Nicki Minaj transformations on the “Your Face Sounds Familiar” stage.
Myrtle Sarrosa (YFSF Season 2, 2015) - “Fly”
Myrtle came out of the ‘iconator’ in full glam as Nicki Minaj, rapping her part in the 2011 hit “Fly” featuring Rihanna. The jury was truly impressed with how Myrtle delivered the rap---just like Nicki, full of emotion and conviction.
Teacher Georcelle praised Myrtle’s energy, saying she really came to win, “Sobrang galing mong mag-rap.” Coach Jed Madela also commended her performance, noting how she embodied Nicki’s style with precision.
Judge Gary Valenciano emphasized how Myrtle proved her haters wrong, expressing that he and the rest of the panel will continue to support her in her performances.
Myrtle placed 8th at the end of the season.
Sheena Belarmino (YFSF Kids Season 2, 2018) - “Starship”
The Nicki Minaj spirit was alive in Sheena Belarmino as she stepped onstage to perform the 2012 hit “Starships.” Sheena brought the house down, turning the stage into full party mode with her rap delivery, playful interactions with the judges, and the cheers of her fellow ka-Familiars who hyped her up.
Despite not being a professional rapper, Sheena impressed Judge Sharon Cuneta, who told her, “I want you to know we're so bilib to your talent.” Coach Jed Madela echoed the praise, saying there’s nothing Sheena can’t do, “You can sing, rap, dance, lahat. You entertain, ang galing galing.”
Judge Ogie Alcasid capped off the comments by commending Sheena’s consistency, “Hindi ka bumitaw doon sa pagiging Nicki Minaj mo. Napaniwala mo ako. I think that was really excellent.”
Sheena placed 4th at the end of the season.
Christian Bables (YFSF Season 3, 2021) - “Super Bass”
Paired with Nicki’s iconic pink hair and her trademark sass-and-swag fashion, it felt like Nicki herself was onstage through Christian Bables as he rapped the 2011 song “Super Bass.” After his performance, Christian admitted that transforming into Nicki was one of his most challenging acts, despite previously taking on other gender-switch artists. “Dito ko rin po na-discover na kaya ko pala,” he shared, highlighting how much he has learned through the experience.Judge Sharon Cuneta acknowledged his efforts as a performer, especially since he is not a rapper himself. “On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 ka ngayong gabi,” she expressed how proud she was of him.
Judge Ogie Alcasid praised Christian’s dedication, “Ang ambag mo talaga ‘yung puso mo na nararamdaman namin.” He even envisioned Christian starring in a musical film, confident that his talent could carry him through any role.
Finally, Judge Gary Valenciano, who closely observes performers whenever they're onstage, commended Christian for representing pure heart in his craft. “You, Christian, represent the heart. Kaya seryoso ka sa ginagawa mo and that’s what we need… you come out with all heart.” He felt Christian's sincerity and passion.
Christian placed 5th at the end of the season.
Francis Concepcion (YFSF Kids Season 2, 2018) - “Bang Bang” with TNT Boys
For the grand finals of “YFSF Kids” Season 2, the TNT Boys went all out with their performance of “Bang Bang” by Jessie J., Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj.
Francis transformed into Nicki, while Macky embodied Jessie and Kiefer took on Ariana. The number opened strong with Macky and Kiefer’s powerhouse vocals, but the crowd went wild when Francis stepped in with Nicki’s rap, as if Nicki’s spirit had taken over the stage.
The performance earned a standing ovation from the judges. Judge Sharon Cuneta praised their transformation, saying, “That was a fantastic number!” Judge Gary Valenciano was left speechless, praising how the TNT Boys captured both hearts and attention with their act. Judge Ogie Alcasid capped the comments by describing the performance as “intimidating,” commending the trio’s talent.
In the end, the TNT Boys were hailed as the grand winners of the season.
Awra Briguela (YFSF Kids Season 1, 2017) - “Super Bass”
Awra lit up the stage with his finale performance of “Super Bass.” From the moment he started rapping, the crowd cheered, and he did everything flawlessly, complete with Nicki’s costume, makeup, vocals, and rap skills.
Judge Sharon Cuneta had nothing but words of appreciation for Awra, “Ang ganda ganda naman ng performance ni Awra.” She said, praising the joy and happiness Awra brings to every performance. “Talaga namang tinodo mo talaga,” she added.
Judge Ogie Alcasid described Awra’s performance as “pasabog,” expressing how impressed he was. Finally, Judge Gary Valenciano recognized Awra as a superstar, but reminded him to stay humble as he continues to inspire others.
Awra was the grand winner of the season.
Marielle Montellano (YFSF Season 4, 2025) - “Beauty and a Beat” with JM Dela Cerna
The stage was already hyped with JM as Justin Bieber performing “Beauty and a Beat,” but the screams grew even louder when Marielle Montellano stepped in as Nicki Minaj for the rap part of the song in her full rapstar mode.
Marielle shared how happy she was with how their number turned out, while hosts Vhong Navarro and Jhong Hilario praised her for nailing Nicki’s rap and even mimicking the rap star’s accent.
For Judge Gary Valenciano, this was by far JMielle's most accurate transformation, going beyond their usual genre and leaving a lasting impact on him. He admitted Marielle’s rap left him speechless, saying he was hands down impressed.
Judge Sharon Cuneta continued to be in awe of JMielle’s consistency. She revealed she had been curious about how Marielle would portray Nicki, and when she finally stepped out, Sharon was blown away, “’Yung transformation ni Marielle was so unexpected but pati ‘yung galaw [kuhang-kuha].” To her, the performance was perfect.
Guest judge Erik Santos summed it up with one word, “Amazed.” He praised Marielle, saying, “Ikaw, Marielle, yung attitude at angst ni Nicki Minaj, ibang klase.” For him, JMielle truly embodied Nicki and Justin onstage, not just themselves.
JMielle took home the win of the week with their performance.
These performances by our favorite ka-Familiars go to show that while it may look easy, stepping into Nicki Minaj’s shoes is no small feat. She remains an extraordinary performer whose artistry continues to inspire.
Catch the amazing transformations of your favorite celebrity performers on “Your Face Sounds Familiar,” weeknights, 7:15PM on Kapamilya Channel, ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL) and iWant.