Trading their masculine looks to embrace their femininity and express their allyship with the queer community.
On Monday, October 19, ABS-CBN’s noontime variety progran It’s Showtime kicked off its week-long 17th anniversary special.
As disclosed by Vice Ganda last Saturday, the highlight of the episode was the special celebrity edition of the popular queer pageant Miss Q&A.
For the first day of the said segment, three hunks from Pinoy Big Brother, a Sparkle Campus Cutie alum, and a Showtime host transformed themselves to become the five “Reyna Talakeras” of the day.
River Joseph transformed into “River Jean Phoa”; Vince Maristela as “Disney Vincess Martstela Araneta Siguon-Reyna”; Ralph Miaco as “Ralph-a Mae Gento”; Ralph De Leon as “Masa-Ralph De Leon”; and Ryan Bang as “Saranghae Ronimo.”
While it was all fun and games, as the five guys played along as they built their characters for the day, they sure did well during the actual question-and-answer round, showcasing their wit and talent in speaking.
In the end, Ralph De Leon, a Miss Q&A regular judge and Y Speak host, emerged the first winner of the special segment, which will run for the rest of the week.
Meanwhile, aside from the pageant portion, the episode also saw a high-octane opening number led by the It’s Showtime family, led by Vice, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Karylle, Ogie Alcasid, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, Jackie Corpuz, Cianne Dominguez, and the Baby Dolls.
They also brought back the well-loved Funanghalian segment that featured the game Cash-ya at Kaya.
The It’s Showtime 17th anniversary special, subtitled This Your Show, Disisyete, will air until October 24 (Saturday)—the exact date of their premiere back in 2009.
