Kai Montinola shines as the top vote-getter in Radar PH’s “Femme Fatale” category.
Former “Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11” housemate Kai Montinola continues to prove that her popularity extends far beyond the famous house after topping radar.ph’s “Femme Fatale” category.
The Cebuana star garnered 250 votes during the month-long online poll, beating 17 other nominees and reaffirming her growing influence among fans.
Known to viewers as the “Singing Gwapa of Cebu,” Kai has steadily built a name for herself since her “Pinoy Big Brother” stint. She has since ventured into acting, landing roles in the ABS-CBN series “Saving Grace” and her first “Maalaala Mo Kaya” episode alongside Kyle Echarri. The pair later reunited in the digital project “Roja” earlier this year.
Looking back on her journey, Kai credited “Pinoy Big Brother” for opening doors she never imagined possible.
“I always say this to everyone and anyone I talk to, especially when they know nothing about me. Regardless of them knowing me or not, I always say that PBB changed my life. It’s true,” Kai shared in an interview with ABS-CBN.
Before entering the reality show, Kai described herself as an ordinary student from Cebu who simply wanted to experience life inside the PBB house.
“I was just a simple girl in Cebu and I went to school every day and sang every now and then. And I decided that I would join PBB because I wanted to experience it. I wasn’t really chasing anything bigger other than just going inside PBB,” she recalled.
What started as a personal challenge eventually became a life-changing opportunity.
“Doon ko na-realize na parang ang laking blessing din pala ng ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ sa akin kasi ang daming nangyari. Ang daming nag-change for the better. At ang dami ding na-resolve na problema sa buhay,” she said.
“Kaya ako sobrang thankful sa PBB dahil nagagawa ko na ‘yong mga gusto kong gawin. At kinikilala pa ako dahil doon. Kaya, I’m so grateful for that.”
Aside from acting, Kai has continued pursuing her passion for music through regular performances on ASAP, where she gets the chance to showcase her versatility as a singer.
When asked about the type of music she hopes to explore further, Kai revealed that she prefers not to limit herself to a single genre.
“If I were to pick a genre of what I want to perform more, honestly I’m very open with anything,” she said.
“I sing a lot of pop and classics and ballads and theater music. That really is my forte. But in terms of listening to music, I listen to a lot of pop, R&B, and theater. Even pop rock. Pero basta I’m very open to different kinds of music.”
Her love for performing was also shaped by the artists she admired growing up, particularly Tony Award-winning performer Lea Salonga.
Recalling her childhood fascination with Disney films, Kai shared how she discovered Salonga’s connection to some of the iconic princess characters she loved.
“So siyempre sini-search ko na sa YouTube at a very young age, as a Gen Z pa naman. So doon ko nalaman that a few of the Disney princesses were voiced by Lea Salonga,” she said.
Kai added that learning about Salonga’s remarkable journey inspired her even more.
“I later found out that she was Filipino and that she started off in ‘Miss Saigon,’ which is a musical. She started off as an actress as well in the Philippines,” she said.
From being a young dreamer in Cebu to becoming one of the most promising talents to emerge from “Pinoy Big Brother,” Kai continues to embrace every opportunity that comes her way whether in acting, music, or whatever challenge awaits next.
READ:
PBB winner Caprice Cayetano headlines TJ Monterde’s new ‘Teka Lang’ MV
Denchelle Castro
June 5, 2026
Kuya’s ‘Powerpuff Girls:’ PBB darlings Maymay Entrata, Kai Montinola, Lou Yanong in ‘Roja’
Denchelle Castro
March 12, 2026
Are sparks flying between Andres Muhlach and Kai Montinola?
Kiko Escuadro
April 21, 2026
