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Dolly, Darna and Drag: 10 breakout stars of 2022

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Miguel Dumaual, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="" star="" Jane="" de="" of="" actress="" Dolly="" and="" Race="" winner="" Precious="" Paula="" Nicole="" are="" among="" the="" breakout="" artists="" local="" showbiz="" in="" Metro.Style="" TBA="" Studios="" World="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/01/02/01032023-jane-de-leon,-dolly-de-leon-and-winner-precious-paula-nicole.jpg"/><figcaption>&#x27;Darna&#x27; star Jane de Leon, &#x27;Triangle of Sadness&#x27; actress Dolly de Leon, and &#x27;Drag Race Philippines&#x27; winner Precious Paula Nicole are among the breakout artists of local showbiz in 2022. <em>Metro.Style/ TBA Studios/ World of Wonder</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — It was a long, long wait for Jane de Leon.</p><p>Between her introduction as this generation’s Darna and her TV debut as the Mars Ravelo superhero, there were cycles of pandemic lockdowns that delayed her launch, a change in format for the adaptation (from movie to series), as well as a switch in directors to take its helm.</p><p>Three years and a month — from the announcement of her casting in July 2019 to the teleserye’s premiere in August 2022 — that’s how long de Leon had to wait to see her rigorous preparation for the role come to fruition and finally come by her big break. </p><p>And it’s been a breakthrough indeed, as de Leon took flight literally, on screen, and figuratively, as an emerging household name and an in-demand brand endorser, thanks to the primetime exposure of her applauded portrayal of a pop culture icon.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="‘Darna’ actress Jane de Leon poses in front of a mural inspired by the Mars Ravelo superhero after its unveiling in June 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/06/16/20220616-darna-mura-unveiling-md-13.jpg"/><figcaption>‘Darna’ actress Jane de Leon poses in front of a mural inspired by the Mars Ravelo superhero after its unveiling in June 2022. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Beyond earning praise for her take on Darna, de Leon has also drawn passionate fans — her individual supporters and those of her pairings with Janella Salvador and Joshua Garcia — who frequently make the actress and the show trending topics on social media.</p><p>For giving justice to a coveted role and her meteoric rise to popularity, de Leon gets a spot in this compilation of breakout talents of 2022.</p><p>Joining de Leon in this yearend list are acts, artists, and personalities who similarly made significant progress in their career this year, whether as an overnight sensation or, like the millennial new-generation Darna, after patiently waiting for their turn in the limelight.</p><div><strong>The following are un-ranked, and listed in alphabetical order:</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="ALTHEA RUEDAS" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/01/02/althea.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo from Netflix Philippines</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>ALTHEA RUEDAS</strong><br/><em>Actress-singer | Film, TV</em></h3><ul>	<li>Starred in top-streamed Netflix film ‘Doll House’ with Baron Geisler</li>	<li>Joined the cast of the primetime series ‘The Iron Heart’</li>	<li>Cast in Cinemalaya 2022 entry ‘Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin’</li></ul><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/movies/10/23/22/the-making-of-doll-house-in-the-eyes-of-its-director">Netflix’s ‘Doll House’: How they made a heartwarming drama in very cold Rotterdam </a></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="ANJI SALVACION" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/04/19/20220419-anji-salvacion-ig.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo from Salvacion&#x27;s Instagram account</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>ANJI SALVACION</strong><br/><em>Singer-host | Television<br/>Won ‘Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10’</em></h3><ul>	<li>Released her debut EP ‘Kasingkasing Dalampasigan’</li>	<li>Joined ‘ASAP Natin ‘To’ as a regular performer</li>	<li>Became a regular PIE channel host</li></ul><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/29/22/milestone-after-milestone-for-anji-salvacions-debut-ep">Milestone after milestone for Anji Salvacion’s debut EP</a></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="CHAI FONACIER" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/culture/2022/32/9cf.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Screenshot from the trailer of &#x27;Nocebo</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>CHAI FONACIER</strong><br/><em>Actress | TV, film</em></h3><ul>	<li>Made international debut via thriller film ‘Nocebo’</li>	<li>Joined cast of primetime series ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’</li></ul><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/movies/10/09/22/chai-fonacier-on-making-nocebo-and-meeting-eva-green">Meet the fabulous Chai Fonacier, the actress Eva Green calls ’an incredible partner’</a></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="CHANTY" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/01/02/chanty.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo courtesy of Metro.Style</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>CHANTY</strong><br/><em>Filipino member of Lapillus | Music</em></h3><ul>	<li>Debuted as a one-sixth of the K-pop girl group</li>	<li>Embarked on media tour in the Philippines</li>	<li>Signed as an artist of local talent agency Sparkle</li></ul><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/06/22/how-abs-cbn-helped-chanty-of-lapillus-thrive-in-korea">How ABS-CBN helped Chanty of Lapillus thrive in Korea</a></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="DOLLY DE LEON" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/tvpatrol/12/12/dolly-de-leon.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo by Andy Rain, EPA-EFE</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>DOLLY DE LEON</strong><br/><em>Actress | TV, film</em></h3><ul>	<li>Starred in Palme d’Or-winning film ‘Triangle of Sadness’</li>	<li>Won international acting awards, including from LA Film Critics Awards</li>	<li>Earned historic nomination as Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes</li>	<li>Cast in upcoming primetime series ‘Dirty Linen’</li>	<li>Signed with US talent agency Fusion Entertainment</li></ul><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/12/13/22/ang-sarap-dolly-de-leon-on-golden-globe-nomination">Ang sarap!&#x27; Dolly de Leon reacts to Golden Globe nomination</a></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="‘DRAG RACE PH’ QUEENS" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/10/12/20221012-drag-race-philippines-via-hbo-go-grab-2.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Screenshot from &#x27;Drag Race Philippines&#x27;</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>‘DRAG RACE PH’ QUEENS</strong><br/><em>Contestants | Reality show</em></h3><ul>	<li>Became social media sensations</li>	<li>Hailed first local winner (Precious Paula Nicole)</li>	<li>Announced as cast members of a drama series (‘Drag You &amp; Me’)</li>	<li>Became recording artists (‘Pop Off Ate,’ Marina Summers’ ‘Divine’)</li>	<li>Further popularized local drag culture</li></ul><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/10/19/22/drag-race-ph-renewed-for-season-2">‘Drag Race PH’ renewed for season 2 including ‘Untucked’ segment</a></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="GAB PANGILINAN" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/01/02/gabpangilinan.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo from Pangilinan&#x27;s Instagram account</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>GAB PANGILINAN</strong><br/><em>Singer-actress | TV, theater, music</em></h3><ul>	<li>Won best actress for ‘Still’ at the Asian Television Awards</li>	<li>Returned to theater stage with ‘Mula sa Buwan’</li>	<li>Released a top-streamed track, ‘Rosas,’ with Nica del Rosario</li></ul><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/12/02/22/asian-tv-awards-2022-maine-gab-among-filipino-winners">Maine Mendoza, Gab Pangilinan among Filipino winners in 27th Asian Television Awards</a></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="KAILA ESTRADA" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/01/02/kailaestradammk.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo courtesy of Metro.Style</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>KAILA ESTRADA</strong><br/><em>Actress | TV</em></h3><ul>	<li>Concluded first main role in a teleserye (‘Viral Scandal)</li>	<li>Starred in first lead role in ‘MMK’ (March 2022)</li>	<li>Led the cast of the finale offering of ‘MMK’ in December</li>	<li>Starred in PIE channel’s ‘The Chosen One: Soap Opera’</li></ul><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/09/22/1-on-1-why-kaila-estrada-is-called-a-revelation">Meet Kaila Estrada, first-time teleserye actress who’s been called a ‘revelation’</a></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="SASSA GURL" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/09/02/sassa-gurl-ig-902022.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo from Sassa Gurl&#x27;s Instagram account</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3><strong>SASSA GURL</strong><br/><em>Internet sensation, host | Social media</em></h3><ul>	<li>Crossed over to mainstream as co-host of ‘Drag Den Philippines’</li>	<li>Introduced as the 2022 calendar star of a whiskey brand</li>	<li>Became a cover darling of numerous fashion publications</li></ul><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/14/22/sassa-gurl-wows-as-official-whisky-calendar-model">‘Ano na, Bea at Chie?’ Sassa Gurl wows as official whisky calendar model</a></div>

Joining 'Darna' star Jane de Leon in this yearend list are acts, artists, and personalities who similarly made significant progress in their career this year, whether as an overnight sensation, or after patiently waiting for their turn in the limelight.

Dolly, Darna and Drag: 10 breakout stars of 2022

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Dolly, Darna and Drag: 10 breakout stars of 2022

Miguel Dumaual,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 03, 2023 01:45 AM PHT

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Dolly de Leon

Jane de Leon

Drag Race Philippines

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