In case you haven’t noticed by now, 2022 is all about the new generation of young stars. We’ve seen many Gen Z talents rise to fame in recent months, but Anji Salvacion is one you’ll never really forget. Hailing from a small island in Siargao, the 19-year-old has captured the hearts of many audiences with her powerful vocals, spirited attitude, and humble backstory.
To help you get to know her better, here are six fast facts about the up-and-coming star:
1. Anji grew up in Siargao.
Anji was born in Surigao City on September 24, 2002, but she mostly spent her childhood in a small island in Siargao. Although she grew up close to her younger brother and mother, her father reportedly disappeared while working abroad in Guam. In previous interviews with the press, Anji revealed that the Jewish Russian missionary went missing after he sent their family money about eight years ago. Since then, they haven’t been able to contact him despite many search attempts.
2. Anji’s entry point to showbiz was Idol Philippines.
Inspired by Sarah Geronimo and Goin’ Bulilit, Anji has dreamt of being an artista since she was six years old. She first auditioned for Star Circle Quest and Pinoy Big Brother when she was 13, but to no avail. Apparently, Anji had to travel for at least 13 hours to leave Siargao and attend her auditions in General Santos, but this never dampened the determined teen’s spirits.
She finally got her first big break when she auditioned for Idol Philippines in 2019 with the goal of finding her long-lost father. While Anji didn’t make it that far into the competition, the exposure she gained from the show allowed her to join various television commercials as an extra. At some point, she even became a body double for singer-actress Sam Cruz (they ended up as close friends, BTW), reportedly earning about P30,000 per gig. Just last year, she also joined the cast of television mini series Unloving U as Waltz.
3. Anji is a Squad Plus member.
Originally known as The Gold Squad, Squad Plus is a group of talented Gen Z personalities who create engaging content on YouTube and join Sunday performances on ASAP Natin ‘To. Anji revealed that one of the heads in Idol Philippines invited her to join the group in 2021, officially beginning her contract with Star Magic. Anji’s candid and relatable personality allows her to befriend other squadmates easily, but she’s seemingly closest to Sam and singer Angela Ken.
4. Anji joined season 10 of PBB.
After securing her membership in The Squad Plus, Anji re-auditioned for PBB with zero expectations. Much to her surprise, it wasn't long before she found herself stepping into the famous yellow house as the “Singing Sweetheart ng Siargao.” Initially, Anji struggled to open up because she was afraid of how audiences and fellow housemates would perceive her. This caused her to be nominated for eviction several times throughout the reality show, but the young star still emerged as one of the top two finalists.
5. Anji is now a recording artist.
Even though Anji’s early showbiz experiences are mostly focused on acting, Anji is now known for being a talented singer. Written during her days in the PBB house, her first-ever self-penned single “Dalampasigan” was released last week as a tribute to her hometown and missing father. ICYMI, she first performed this song in a live streamed concert last December to raise funds for the survivors of supertyphoon Odette. Currently, the song’s official lyric video has over 130,000 views on YouTube and 49,000 streams on Spotify.
Prior to this release, Anji sang various television soundtracks such as “Keeps on Coming Back” for Unloving U, “Buo” for Marry Me, Marry You, and “Don’t Be Afraid” for My Sunset Girl. Vocals aside, Anji can also dance and play the ukulele and guitar.
6. Anji is the new host of Bida Star Singer.
Now fast approaching the peak of her fame, Anji is the newest host of singing competition Bida Star Singer. It’s her very first hosting stint in showbiz, so Anji feels both nervous and excited about her latest project. As for her future showbiz plans, Anji aspires to star in a teleserye and hold a concert in Araneta Coliseum someday.
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