At first glance, Kathleen Follero is a young singer preparing to represent the Philippines at the Karaoke World Championships (KWC) World Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada this October. But behind the title of KWC Philippines 2025 Grand Champion is a story of perseverance, resilience, and a dream that has been years in the making.
Like many young performers, Kathleen’s journey did not begin with instant success.
In fact, one of her earliest memories of competition was a painful one.
During her first singing contest in her hometown, her voice suddenly cracked in the middle of her performance. The experience left her emotional, and she cried after leaving the stage. Yet despite the setback, she still earned the title of 3rd Runner-Up.
For many young singers, that moment could have ended their confidence. For Kathleen, it became the start of something greater.
“I learned that one mistake doesn’t define me,” she recalls. “It made me want to work harder and become better.”
That determination would become a recurring theme throughout her musical journey.
As she continued competing, Kathleen often found herself facing older and more experienced contestants. She experienced both victories and disappointments. There were times when she advanced, and there were times when she fell short. Each competition, however, became another lesson that helped shape her as a performer.
One of the biggest milestones in her young career came when she auditioned for The Voice Teens Philippines.
After weeks of waiting and uncertainty, Kathleen finally received the call informing her that she had been selected for the Blind Auditions. Standing on one of the country’s biggest television stages, she delivered her performance while waiting for a coach to turn their chair.
For most of the song, nothing happened.
Then, on her very last note, a coach pressed the button.
The moment remains one of the most unforgettable experiences of her life.
Although her journey eventually ended during the Battle Rounds, the experience opened her eyes to the possibilities that music could bring.
“It taught me that every opportunity matters,” she says. “Even if you don’t win, you gain experience that helps you grow.”
Her talent would soon take her beyond Philippine shores.
Kathleen represented the country at the Youth Educational Friendship Festival (YEFF) in Bali, Indonesia, competing against talented young performers from 34 countries. It was her first time traveling abroad, and she embraced the opportunity with excitement and gratitude.
The trip became another major breakthrough when she won two Gold Awards in both solo and duo categories.
For the young singer, the victory proved that her voice could connect with audiences far beyond her hometown.
Yet the defining chapter of her journey was still ahead.
In 2025, Kathleen found herself balancing school, auditions, performances, and new opportunities. She auditioned for another national television competition and continued pursuing every chance to improve her craft.
Then her family encouraged her to audition for KWC Philippines.
At first, she saw it as simply another opportunity to sing.
What followed would change her life.
Kathleen emerged as the KWC Luzon Champion, earning a place in the national finals. The journey brought her to Manila, where she spent an intensive week preparing alongside fellow finalists from across the country.
More than a competition, KWC became an experience of growth, friendship, and empowerment.
The contestants trained together, practiced together, and supported one another despite competing for the same title.
“We became friends right away,” Kathleen shares. “We practiced together every morning, encouraged each other, and made memories that I will never forget.”
When Grand Finals night arrived, Kathleen felt the pressure.
The stakes were high. One performer would earn the right to represent the Philippines on the world stage.
Despite the nerves, she stepped onto the stage and gave everything she had.
Moments later, her life changed forever.
Kathleen Follero was named KWC Philippines 2025 Grand Champion.
The victory was more than a trophy or title.
It represented years of hard work, countless auditions, disappointments turned into lessons, and a young girl who refused to give up on her dreams.
Through KWC, Kathleen discovered more than her abilities as a singer. She found confidence in herself, learned how to perform under pressure, and gained a stronger belief in what she can achieve.
Today, she stands as one of the country’s most promising young vocal talents, preparing to represent the Philippines at the KWC World Finals in Las Vegas this October.
But beyond the fame and recognition she hopes to achieve, Kathleen’s motivation remains deeply personal.
She dreams of becoming an internationally recognized artist. She hopes to perform around the world, work with composers and songwriters from different countries, and eventually release her own music.
Most importantly, she wants to help her family.
Her parents have been her strongest supporters throughout her journey, encouraging her to pursue her dreams even when challenges seemed impossible.
“They have sacrificed so much for me,” Kathleen says. “Everything I do is also for them.”
As she prepares for the biggest competition of her life, Kathleen carries more than her own ambitions. She carries the hopes of her family, the pride of her supporters, and the dreams of a young girl who once cried after a voice crack but never stopped believing.
This October in Las Vegas, Kathleen Follero will stand before the world as the Philippines’ representative at the Karaoke World Championships.
And regardless of the outcome, her story has already proven something important:
Champions are not defined by perfect performances. They are defined by the courage to keep going, the willingness to learn from every setback, and the determination to keep chasing their dreams.
For Kathleen Follero, the journey is only beginning.
Follow Kathleen Follero on her socials — Facebook , Instagram and Tiktok.
Karaoke World Championships (KWC) is the world’s biggest and most prestigious global music contest and singing event. It brings together singers from all over the world. KWC is the opportunity for aspiring singers to show their amazing talents to the world and to give the crowd an unforgettable experience. The competition has been organised annually since it originally founded in Finland in the year 2003. The annual World finals have been held in various countries around the world.
KWC is organised by Singa. Singa is a streaming service for karaoke singers available in many European countries, North America and Australia, soon also in other markets.
KWC 2026 World Finals is set on the 25th to the 29th of October 2026 at the Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. For more information about KWC visit https://www.kwc.fi/ or https://www.facebook.com/karaokeworldchampionships. Be updated via KWC official on Instagram.
The New Channel (TNC) Media Corp. is the main producer of the Karaoke World Championships (KWC) Philippines, and Apple Esplana-Manansala, TNC’s prime mover is the country partner and national director. For more information about KWC Philippines, visit https://www.facebook.com/kwcpinas/ or email kwcph@thenewchannel.com
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