Filipina singer Janice Phuong was named grand winner of the popular singing competition Vietnam Idol 2016 on Friday, September 30, 2016.
The 28-year-old singer, whose real name is Janice A Buco, beat a Vietnamese contestant Viet Thang to win the title and a cash prize worth VND600-million ($26,730).
Phuong impressed the public with her rendition of the popular song “Hello Vietnam” during finals night of the competition. She received a total of 54.25 percent of the votes.
Phuong is working as a singer at bars and clubs in Vietnam for seven years. She audition for Vietnam Idol when the reality TV show opened to expats for the first time.
Vietnam Idol is part of the Idol franchise; it originated from the reality program Pop Idol created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller and the U.S. show American Idol.