HARLEM, New York – Lianah Sta. Ana won the “Child Stars of Tomorrow” grand championship for kids at the Apollo in Harlem, New York Wednesday night.
Organizers said in its almost 76 years of existence, this is the very first time a Filipino has ever won the Super Top Dog prize at the Apollo’s Amateur Night.
“It was hard, but it was also fun… it was hard because there’s so many talents that it’s hard to compete with,” said Sta. Ana.
Sta. Ana’s mother, Nyla added, “To win all four levels of competition and to win the finals, she’s the first Filipino to do that – straight from the Apollo historian.”
The Apollo Theater is known as the place “Where stars are born and legends are made.”
The legendary venue has launched the careers of icons, many of them started out as amateur night winners like Sta. Ana. Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Lauryn Hill and then 9-year-old Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 in the late 60’s to name a few.
Another Filipino-American who made history and made it to the “Top Dog Grand Finals” in the adult category is Hawaii native, Matthew Suyat.
Suyat said he is more than happy he made it this far. “It’s rough! The Apollo is rough but it is what it is, the more people that you bring, the better it is for you,” said Suyat.
Sta. Ana said she will be donating part of her $2,000 prize money to her favorite charity in the Philippines.
She is also set to grace and ride the Apollo’s first ever “Top Hat” float at the Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on November 25. Balitang America
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