Ang RnB Prince na si Kris Lawrence ang grand champion ng Masked Singer Pilipinas Season 2 sa final battle na naganap ngayong Sabado ng gabi, June 18.
Ang maskara at costume ng panda ang ginamit ni Kris para itago ang kanyang pagkakakilanlan pero nahulaan ng judge detectives na sina Aga Muhlach, Bayani Agbayani, Matteo Guidicelli, Kim Molina at Cristine Reyes ang boses niya.
Ikinuwento ni Kris sa exclusive interview ng Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) na siya ang pumili ng panda costume na kanyang ginamit sa Masked Singer Pilipinas.
“Ako ang pumili. They gave me a couple of choices pero na-cute-an kami ng team ko sa panda costume,” pahayag ni Kris na balak hingin ang ulo ng panda para may souvenir siya mula sa singing competition na kanyang sinalihan.
Ang tagumpay ni Kris sa Masked Singer Pilipinas Season 2 ang itinuturing niyang pangalawang "grand champion belt" sa kanyang singing career dahil siya ang grand winner ng Season 2 ng Star in a Million, ang singing contest ng ABS-CBN na napanood mula September 2005 hanggang January 22, 2006.
Para kay Kris, naging malaking hamon sa kanya ang pagsali niya noon sa Star in a Million at sa Masked Singer Pilipinas.
“They were both very challenging pero mas mahirap overall ang Star in a Million na emotionally, mentally and physically challenging dahil I was really trying to win.
“Plus I was still getting used to Philippine culture so I had culture shock pa, newbie in showbiz…maraming adjustments.
“But that contest prepared me to compete at this level for Masked Singer Pilipinas which was more fun.
“I knew some of the staff already. Alam ko na ang takbo ng tapings, but sa totoo lang, mas mahirap ang mga kalaban ko sa Masked Singer Pilipinas kesa sa Star in a Million.
“I actually thought Frenchie Dy or Arthur Nery was gonna win kasi sobrang galing nila, but I can’t help my competitive nature sometimes kaya towards the end, since nasa finals na ako, itinodo ko na.
“I also love that I got to work with my soul brother Billy Crawford [Masked Singer Pilipinas host] again,” ang maligayang-maligayang pahayag ni Kris na tumanggap ng mga papuri mula sa judge detectives at viewers dahil sa weekly outstanding performances niya sa reality singing competition ng TV5 at Viva TV.
Ang "Lately," ang 1981 hit song ni Stevie Wonder ang winning piece ni Kris sa final battle ng Masked Singer Pilipinas dahil iniidolo niya ang legendary American singer.
“Stevie Wonder is my hero and my idol so I wanted to pay tribute to one of my biggest influences in singing," ani Kris na itinuturing ang kanyang mga karanasan as Masked Singer Pilipinas contestant bilang pinakamalaking premyong natanggap niya.
“My prize was the experience. The words that I heard from the judges was exactly what I needed to hear to inspire me more to keep doing what I’m doing.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve been on a television show so this was so much fun for me. The physical prize was a gold trophy which will go right up there with my collection.”