Katrina Velarde strikes online gold

MANILA, Philippines - Katrina Velarde (photo) creates another online splash with her latest video uploaded on her official Facebook page.

The video features Katrina in a series of vignettes where she imitates a selection of both international and local iconic female artists like Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Sarah Geronimo, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Kristen Bell, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Christina Aguilera, Regine Velasquez, Britney Spears, Ellie Goulding, Rufa Mae Quinto, Shakira, Karen Carpenter, Toni Gonzaga, Aegis, Lyka Gairanod, Toni Braxton, Kyla, Jaya, Jessie J, Arianna Grande, Nicki Minaj and Chaka Khan.

Katrina first came to mainstream consciousness when she auditioned in the first season of X Factor Philippines in 2012 where she eventually became part of all-girl vocal group AKA JAM under the mentorship of Gary Valenciano. Prior to X Factor Philippines, Katrina was a regular figure in local singing competitions. Then it became one of her hobbies to upload her versions of popular songs, using a purple comb as a makeshift microphone.

She uploaded a cover of Beyoncé’s Dangerously In Love two years before she joined X Factor Philippines. Beyoncé’s guitarist Bibi McGil shared it on her social media platforms and afterwards, international R&B superstar Chris Brown tweeted her video to his millions of followers. The video was nominated on WorldStarHipHop.com as one of the top viral videos of 2013. Katrina’s standout performance and the now iconic purple comb she used on her videos earned her the moniker of being the Philippines’ Suklay Diva (Comb Diva). She stood as the band leader, vocal arranger and choreographer of her group AKA JAM which took the third place trophy in It’s Showtime’s Bida Kapamilya contest in 2013 and recorded the song Overjoyed with Gary V for his Gary V Sings Just For You album.

In 2014, she toured the US with mentor Gary V and guested in PMPC Star Awards’ Concert of the Year ARISE that same year. She topbilled TV5’s musical soap Trenderas and bagged a nomination for Best New Actress for her role as Diva on the said series.

Katrina’s latest video initially had 29,000 likes, 13,000 shares and 611,000 views. It was picked up by Filipino Dubsmash and shared it on its official Facebook page. Today, the video series has over 112,000 likes, over 94,000 shares and over three million views.

As a result of the video being viral, Katrina has been invited to do live appearances and special performances in TV shows.

Katrina is co-managed by Manila Genesis and Viva Artist Agency. She is part of the ongoing series #SetList where she tours the hottest bars and venues in the metro with fellow Manila Genesis and Viva artists Monique Lualhati and RJ dela Fuente.

She will also be a special guest in the upcoming Gary V Presents… concert at Resorts World Manila Newport Performing Arts Theater on Oct. 30 and 31.

For details, call 0917-5631874.