Lea Salonga on her Madame Tussauds wax figure—and the Pinoy she wants to have one next
With a career that has entertained and inspired multiple generations, it’s only a matter of time before Lea Salonga has a wax figure at Madame Tussauds.
And now, the world-famous wax museum has finally made it a reality as they unveiled the singer's very own wax figure that will be displayed at their Singapore branch.
PhilSTAR L!fe had a chance to get a first look at the impressive model as it was revealed at the Solaire Resort on Sept. 13.
The sculpture is posed in such a way that Salonga appears ready to belt her impressive vocals through the microphone.
“This figure is one that I tend to default to when I'm performing on stage and there's a mic stand in front of me, I tend to hold it. I like to hold it with both hands. It feels grounding, especially if it's a song that requires a lot of mental energy. It feels very secure to do that,” she explained.
The blue dress it’s wearing was crafted by none other than renowned Filipino fashion designer Rajo Laurel, who is one of Salonga’s longtime friends.
On why she chose that specific outfit, the local star shared that it “best-represented” her personality and sensibilities when deciding what to wear for her performances.
“This gown served me so well for so many shows, so it felt right for it to be continued to be seen on Madame Tussauds' wax likeness of me,” she added.
In making the sculpture, the theater star had to undergo a lot of measurements that were very exact down to the millimeter. She even had her teeth scanned as well as her eye, hair, and skin color to ensure that the sculpture matched everything.
“There was a whole lot of process that went into it, lots of photographs, and it's tedious, and it can be a little arduous because it's a full day of posing and smiling,” she said.
Salonga’s pick for the next wax figure
Salonga officially joins boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, and actress Anne Curtis as the only Filipinos to be immortalized in wax at the popular tourist attraction—and she couldn’t be more proud of herself.
“It's an incredible compliment to be able to have a wax likeness at a Madame Tussauds somewhere in the world. It doesn't happen to everybody and it doesn't happen to a lot of people. It doesn't happen everyday that you get asked, and this is an honor. It really is,” she highlighted.
What’s amazing is that her mom Ligaya manifested her wax figure when she was just a child.
“The first time I ever walked into a Tussauds, I was 12. It was in London, I went with my mother. There was a part of the Tussauds in London called the conservatory, and there are many artists who were part of that museum. There was a wax-like Liza Minnelli, and she was there posing, and I think my mother and I were both looking at it and she said, ‘Anak, you never know. One day, that could be you,’” Salonga recounted.
“I think my 12-year-old self was just so happy after having seen those wax figures for the first time when I was in London, to finally having one of them. It's really cool,” she added.
And now, she is manifesting for her fellow icon Sarah Geronimo to become the next Filipino to have a wax figure. The two of them share a long history together as coaches for The Voice Philippines.
She described Geronimo as someone who “represents the country globally in such a beautiful way” and someone who was still “very current, young, and hip, and definitely talented and has a lot of fans.”
“I would love to see her immortalized in wax like this too,” she emphasized.
As far as global goes, Salonga quickly said that it was the South Korean boy band BTS, who she is a big fan of as they helped her improve her mental health in the past.
Immortalized in memory
Salonga’s Madame Tussauds figure is now a part of her long list of achievements from her years of a successful career in theater. This includes winning a Tony and a Laurence Olivier Award and getting nominated for two Grammys.
Regarded as the “Pride of the Philippines,” Salonga is renowned for starring in numerous musicals from prestigious theaters such as Broadway and West End.
She gained international recognition for playing the lead role in the original productions of Miss Saigon before going on to star in Les Misérables, Flower Drum Song, Allegiance, Once on This Island, and Here Lies Love. She also provided the singing voice for Disney princesses such as Jasmine and Mulan.
Salonga expressed her hope to be remembered as someone who’s “really good at what she does.”
“I'd like to be remembered for the sound of my voice, for the work ethic that I bring to the work that I do, and how loud I laugh and the sense of humor that I have, which kind of permeates throughout my entire life,” she said.
You can meet her wax twin starting on Sept. 20 at the Music Zone of Madame Tussauds Singapore, along with other international personalities such as Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and more.