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These former child wonders at the Star Magical Prom are making us want to reminisce 

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Liezel dela Cruz

The inaugural Star Magical Prom signalled the coming-of-age of young Kapamilya artists including former child stars who are all grown up and geared up to solidify their careers.<div>Raikko Mateo </div><div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/goin-bulilit-kids-1.jpg"/></div>Once upon a time, Raikko inspired us to lead a life of sincerity through his portrayal of the titular role in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-honesto-2013-14613">Honesto</a> (2013). He quickly became the wonder boy of his time, appearing in a slew of teleseryes including <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/youremyhome">You’re My Home</a> (2015), <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/bornforyou">Born For You</a> (2016), <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/thegreatestlove">The Greatest Love</a> (2016), and <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/bagani">Bagani</a> (2018).<div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/goin-bulilit-kids-2.jpg"/></div><div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/goin-bulilit-kids-3.jpg"/></div>Like most of his freshmen batchmates, he stepped out of the limelight due to the pandemic. He was last seen on TV as Pongky in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/pamilyako">Pamilya Ko</a> (2020), which was halted due to strict protocols at the time.Thus, he caught everyone’s surprise when walked the Star Magical Prom ivory carpet in a blue suit, enhancing his dapper look with a thin moustache. In his interview with VJ Ai dela Cruz on the ivory carpet, the 14-year-old artist mentioned that he’s still deciding on what to do with his career, “But I hope it all pans out in the good way.”<div>Mutya Orquia </div><div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/going-bulilit-kids-1.jpg"/></div>Mutya started her career through romance-primetime drama Sabel in December 2010. Just a month later, she got her big break by clinching the titular role of Pablo Gomez’s fantasy series <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/02090218-throwback-mutya-2011-14523">Mutya </a>(2011) where she played a little mermaid.<div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/goin-bulilit-kids-5.jpg"/></div>She also portrayed Abby in the longest-running daytime series <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/bcwmh">Be Careful With My Heart</a> (2012) which got her a Best Child Performance recognition in the 4th FMTM Awards for TV Entertainment.<div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/goin-bulilit-kids-6.jpg"/></div>After she appeared in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/goinbulilit">Goin’ Bulilit</a>, she starred as Cherry in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/pamilyako">Pamilya Ko</a> (2020) in which she and Raikko played siblings. She made her TV comeback via <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/darna">Mars Ravelo’s Darna</a> (2022) as the classmate of Ding played by fellow ex-child star Zaijian Jaranilla.At the Star Magical Prom, the 16-year-old artist channelled her inner princess in a luscious pink gown and was escorted by Beaver Magtalas, <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/starmagic/articles-news/mutya-bini-sheena-star-magic-girls-receive-kilig-promposals-19345">who &#x27;promposed&#x27; to her with a romantic dinner setup and serenade in Tagaytay. </a><div>Xyriel Manabat</div><div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/Child-Star-7.jpg"/></div>Anna Manalastas walked the ivory carpet as well, this time, she was all grown up! The said character is from the series <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/100daystoheaven">100 Days to Heaven</a> (2011), which can be considered a highlight of Xyriel’s impressive body of work as a child wonder.<div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/Child-Star-8.jpg"/></div>She once rose to the challenge of donning twin characters in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-the-star-of-agua-bendita-2010-14806">Agua Bendita</a>(2010), topbilling a teleserye alongside Lorna Tolentino in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-photos-of-xyriel-manabat-as-momay-2010-14817">Momay</a> (2010), and sharing screen with Piolo Pascual and Zaijian Jaranilla in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/08080317-kapamilya-throwback-noah-2010-14804">Noah</a> (2010).<div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/Child-Star-9.jpg"/></div>She was also cast in a special Christmas-serye titled Ikaw Ay Pag-Ibig that ran from November 2011 to January 2012. In 2013, she had a remarkable appearance in the Coco Martin-starrer Juan Dela Cruz. Besides guestings in Kapamilya weekly programs <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/maalaalamokaya">Maalaala Mo Kaya</a> and <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/ipaglabanmo">Ipaglaban Mo</a>, she played the lead stars’ young version in<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/thelegalwife"> The Legal Wife</a> (2014) and <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-the-stars-ikaw-lamang-2014-14411">Ikaw Lamang </a>2014). In 2017, although her last TV appearance before she went on hiatus to focus on her studies, Xyriel proved her dramatic prowess as young Lily Cruz (Maja Salvador) in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/wildflower">Wildflower.</a> Currently, she’s seen in her comeback project <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/dirtylinen">Dirty Linen</a> as Tonette Pavia.Xyriel mesmerized everyone with her low-key sultry look on the Star Magical Prom ivory carpet. She was introduced as part of the sophomore batch.<div>JB Agustin </div><div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/Child-Star-10.jpg"/></div><div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/Child-Star-11.jpg"/></div>Remember JB – the kiddie wonder who starred with Lito Lapid and Jhong Hilario in the fantaserye Little Champ in 2013? He was present at the prom and danced in the grand cotillion as Ericka Peralejo&#x27;s escort.<div><img alt="Star Magic" src="https://aa1a-dctp-s3-entertainment.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/updates/starmagic/2023/04/01/goin-bulilit-kids-7.jpg"/></div>Just a little throwback, JB continued to hone his acting skills after Little Champ. He appeared in several Kapamilya programs including <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-photos/throwback-the-cast-of-nathaniel-2015-14602">Nathaniel </a>(2015), My Super D (2016), <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/mydearheart">My Dear Heart</a> (2017), and <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/bagani">Bagani</a> (2018).His last teleserye was <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tbmv2022">The Broken Marriage Vow</a> (2022). He also had a short appearance in the digital romance-drama anthology Love Bites (2022).

Check out the former child stars who surprised us with their transformation at the Star Magical Prom! 