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TNT Grand Champion Carmelle Collado on balancing school, career, and her debut album

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>After being hailed as <em>Tawag Ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown</em> Grand Champion, Carmelle Collado has been busy juggling her studies and a growing career in music.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with <em>PUSH ABS-CBN</em>, Carmelle shared how she continues to adjust to this new chapter in her life.</p><p>“Actually, ngayon nasa adjusting stage pa rin po ako kasi po ngayon college na po ako so kaka-enroll ko lang po. Ngayon po sunod-sunod na po subjects na pumapasok, so I’m really happy. At the same time, parang nagda-doubt din ako kasi alam ko na parang, bago pa lang ako, meron pang ibang tao na mas deserve sa ganun. But still, ayaw ko naman na ma-disappoint sila sa’kin so binibigay ko na lang ‘yung best ko po talaga,” Carmelle said.</p><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757240397258TNT-Grand-Champion-Carmelle-Collado-on-balancing-school-career-and-her-debut-album.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><strong></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/5/1/tnt-grand-champion-carmelle-collado-graduates-with-honors-from-senior-high-school-0933"><strong><em>READ: TNT grand champion Carmelle Collado graduates with honors from senior high school</em></strong></a></div><p>Since winning the competition, Carmelle has been performing in different venues alongside top OPM icons. For her, sharing the stage with her former <em>TNT</em> judges has been both overwhelming and inspiring.</p><p>“Kinakabahan po ako and, at the same time, pressured na pressured po ako. Kasi kung dati nakakasama ko lang po sila sa TNT as judge ko po talaga, hindi ganun ka-lalim ‘yung bond po talaga namin. So ngayon po parang — ito na pala sila, sila na pala talaga ‘yung makakasama ko ngayon, ‘yung mga judge ng <em>TNT</em>,” Carmelle happily expressed. </p><p>Last August, Carmelle, together with fellow <em>Tawag Ng Tanghalan </em>alum Lyka Estrella, joined Sofronio Vasquez, Bituin Escalante, and Jed Madela as special guests at the <em>Bravo! Manila</em> concert at The Theatre at Solaire. More recently, she performed at <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap"><u><strong><em>ASAP</em></strong></u></a><em> in England </em>with Kapamilya stars.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNuxCPGQPE7/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A450912.7000000477%2C%22ls%22%3A450185.60000014305%2C%22le%22%3A450489.10000014305%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1147" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>“Happy po ako na nao-overwhelm po ako kasi grabe rin po ‘yung mga guidance na binibigay po nila sa amin, ‘di lang po sa akin kundi sa ibang artists po,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOECsa1kjvl/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A450920.40000009537%2C%22ls%22%3A450185.60000014305%2C%22le%22%3A450489.10000014305%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="970" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>She also had the chance to open the Philippine stop of the <em>BINIverse World Tour</em>, which she considers one of her biggest milestones so far.</p><p>“‘Yun po kasi ‘yung pinaka-first talaga na nakapag-perform ako sa ganong event. Noong una sabi ko sa sarili ko ‘kakayanin ko ba ‘to?’ kasi syempre ang laki-laki naman po nun, and then sa  BINI pa talagang kilala po silang artist dito. Ang ginawa ko na lang po, nag-enjoy na lang po ako at maraming, maraming salamat din po sa mga nagustuhan ‘yung performance ko. Sa mga Blooms po, maraming, maraming salamat po,” Carmelle said.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGGESD6hQeU/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A450928.40000009537%2C%22ls%22%3A450185.60000014305%2C%22le%22%3A450489.10000014305%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="977" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>With these experiences, she also expressed her wish to collaborate with Colet Vergara and her fellow Bicolana, Gwen Apuli of BINI.</p><p>“Gusto ko po maka-work si Ate Gwen, because nakilala ko na rin po siya before and sabi po nila same kami ng pinanggalingan — sa Bicol po kami. What if kaming dalawa ni Ate Gwen? Paano namin ire-represent ‘yung mga Bicolano and Bicolana. And Ate Colet din po!” she shared.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1880788093118365849&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-09-05T08%3A13%3A57.858880%3Ad1d3939c-9ca4-4c4d-8753-608ddeb0e1d0%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=c5064e8e89d77f51993d48c64de6fded6349de66&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px"></iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-twitter-extracted-i1757240167011924296="true"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">BINI GWEN MAY KAMBAL?!? 🫣<br/><br/>Nagkita na ang magkalookalike na sina BINI Gwen at TNT New Grand Champion Carmelle!!! ❤️❤️❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MEGAkapamilya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MEGAkapamilya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BiniGwen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BiniGwen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/bini_gwen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bini_gwen</a> <a href="https://t.co/2gaR6CeNNK">pic.twitter.com/2gaR6CeNNK</a></p>— Mega Kapamilya (@MegaKapamilya) <a href="https://twitter.com/MegaKapamilya/status/1880788093118365849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>Carmelle also admitted getting starstruck every time she sees BINI members, especially since she used to only watch them online. She added how flattered she feels whenever people say she and the girls could pass as sisters.</p><p>“‘Di ko po alam if maniniwala ako, kasi sobrang ganda po niya kasi minsan nakakasama ko po sila sa <em>ASAP</em>. Super na-starstruck po talaga ako kasi dati pinapanood ko lang po sila, nakikita ko lang sila sa social media, ngayon po magkakasama na po kami sa opening prods sa <em>ASAP</em>. nakapag-perform din po ako sa kanilang <em>BINIverse</em> sa Philippine Arena po,” Carmelle continued.</p><div><br/></div><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@itsshowtimena/video/7471881814961933576" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7471881814961933576" id="v90537451832911730" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><section><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@itsshowtimena?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@itsshowtimena">@itsshowtimena</a> Sino ang bias ni Carmelle Collado sa <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bini%3F?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="bini?">#BINI?</a> 🤔 <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/abscbn?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="abscbn">#ABSCBN</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/biniverseworldtour2025ph?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="biniverseworldtour2025ph">#BINIverseWorldTour2025PH</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pantropiko?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="pantropiko">#Pantropiko</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/starmagic?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="starmagic">#StarMagic</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-It’s-Showtime-7471882210405042945?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound  - It’s Showtime">♬ original sound - It’s Showtime</a></section><iframe name="__tt_embed__v90537451832911730" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7471881814961933576?lang=en-PH&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-09-05T08%3A13%3A57.858880%3Ad1d3939c-9ca4-4c4d-8753-608ddeb0e1d0%26action%3Dedit" style="width:0px;height:1px;display:none;visibility:hidden;max-height:1px"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Looking ahead, the rising singer prepares to release her first album.</p><p>“Ngayon po, wino-work po namin ‘yung ilalabas ko na songs–’yung album po ‘yan. Ngayon, abang-abang po muna kayo, malapit na po! Nakapag-start na po kami ng ilang songs,” she excitedly teased.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPushAlerts%2Fvideos%2F3182506845225496%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p><b>TNT Grand Champion Carmelle Collado dreams to work with BINI Gwen and Colet.</b></p>

TNT Grand Champion Carmelle Collado dreams to work with BINI Gwen and Colet.

EXCLUSIVE: TNT Grand Champion Carmelle Collado on balancing school, career, and her debut album

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EXCLUSIVE: TNT Grand Champion Carmelle Collado on balancing school, career, and her debut album

Nikka Sabio,

Push Team

Published Sep 07, 2025 06:20 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 07, 2025 06:21 PM PHT

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Carmelle Collado

PUSH

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