Her rise to fame started more than ten years ago. She was just an ordinary netizen who loved doing covers of her favorite songs, which she then uploaded on her social media pages. More than showcasing her vocal talents, posting those videos was done all in the spirit of fun. In fact, she even did so by poking fun at her own self, as she always performed with a trademark household item in her hands.
“Kumakanta ako noon na may hawak na suklay kaya tinawag nila akong Suklay Diva,” recalls the now famous singer Katrina Velarde. “Naswertehan lang siguro ako na nag-viral talaga sya hindi lang sa Philippines,” she adds.
After amassing followers on social media, she decided to bring her then promising career to greater heights.
“After that I joined X-Factor Philippines na and then dun na na-build yung career,” she narrates.
“Initially, I was been with the group AKA Jam dun sa show. Tapos nung natanggal kami, ayun inalagaan kami ni Tito Gary V. Sinasama nya kami sa mga shows nya, even in the US,“ she gratefully says.
Katrina has gone a long way, since her Suklay days. Apart from doing covers, she has now released some originals and has earned a “new” showbiz tag, which she reluctantly attaches to her name: “They are now calling me Asia’s Vocal Supreme but I’m trying to stop them because I think that I don’t deserve it. Kasi when you say Asia, parang may nagawa ka nang something sa Asia. Pero kung yun ang trip nila, sige.”
All is not a bed of roses for this budding superstar, however. Just like other artists performing artists, she is now feeling the pinch of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Good thing, she has created her own niche in the world of social media.
“The advantage of being in social media, hindi ka masyadong apektado ng pandemic. Yes, for those na nasa mainstream, nawala yung live show component ng career. Pero sa social media, di na rin masyado affected. Nung pumutok kasi yung mga live events sa social media, yung mga big companies, di ako naiwan, kasi ang hinahanap nila yung mga may fanbase din sa social media,” Katrina reveals.
Katrina now sits as a judge in Born to be a Star, produced by VIVA on TV5. After being repackaged by her mentors for even bigger things, she now sports a pixie, which is a far cry from her Suklay Diva image. Was that a deliberate strategy to move her away from her beginnings?
“Hindi, ah. Dahil lang kasi mainit. May mga nagsasabing stylists na mas bagay sa akin ang maikling buhok kasi maliit ako. Mas may character.”
Moving forward, this self-confessed Regine Velasquez fan eyes on doing so much more than just being a major performer in the music industry.
“I realized na hindi lang pagkanta ang pwede kong gawin. I can produce, arrange my songs. I’m trying learn how to produce and arrange songs, yun ang gusto kong ma-achieve talaga.”