Lea Salonga has now joined the roster of celebrities who have their own wax figures at the famous museum, Madame Tussauds. The Broadway legend is also the fifth (!) Filipino celebrity to be immortalized using a Madame Tussauds wax figure.
ICYMI, Madame Tussauds Singapore first unveiled Lea's wax figure at the Solaire Resort Entertainment City from September 14 to 15. Lea was present with her mom during the launch of her wax figure and expressed how honored and thrilled she was to see her "twin."
"She's here!!! My wax likeness is complete and has been officially unveiled!" Lea captioned in an Instagram post that also included fun pics of her side-by-side with her wax figure. Lea's "twin" will be traveling to Singapore soon as it will be ready to meet visitors at Madame Tussauds Singapore starting on September 20, 2024.
It was back in June 2024 when the museum first confirmed that the iconic theater actress would be modeled as a wax figure. And although she is the fifth Filipino to get a Madame Tussauds wax figure, Lea's twin is in fact the first Filipina to be initially highlighted at the Singapore branch, before anywhere else.
Lea affirmed how honored she is to be featured in a globally renowned museum. It was a ~dream come true~ for the Filipina singer. "It's creepy how accurate these wax figures are. It's such a treat to have one of these made, an honor to be included. It didn't occur to me that it was actually going to happen, definitely a dream come true,"Lea remarked. By the way, Lea's wax figure's dress was designed by Filipino fashion designer Rajo Laurel, whom Lea did not forget to thank during its launch.
What is Madame Tussauds?
OK, so you might be wondering, what's the hype over Madame Tussauds? Believe it or not, it has been one of the major tourist attractions in London, where it originated. Travelers visit it to somehow get the feels of "rubbing shoulders" with celebrities by taking selfies or videos with them—or rather, with their wax selves. Throughout the years, it has expanded its reach by building its respective branches across the world. In Asia, Madame Tussauds has outposts in Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Chongqing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Wuhan.
Hong Kong is one of the most famous Madame Tussauds locations as it was the first Asian branch to be established in 2000. It is also home to the four other iconic Filipino celebrities who got their own wax figures in the famous museum.
How do you get a Madame Tussauds wax figure?
So, what does it take for a celebrity or a certain personality to be granted a wax figure of their own? Well, according to the official website of Madame Tussauds London, they have a team that evaluates and discusses personalities who have made their global mark—and gains the criteria to be "immortalized in wax" and featured in their museum.
But fans or guests can actually send requests or suggestions to their management about the individuals they'd like the museum to create wax figures of. They have an email where you can send in the requests and you can find it on their official website—but keep in mind that the final say is still with the Madame Tussauds team.
As of this writing, over 150 celebrities have been reimagined using their wax figures present at the Madame Tussauds London branch only. Since we're here, let's also talk about the other Filipinas who made the cut and became a Madame Tussauds figure. Scroll down to see how identical they all look!
LOOK: Filipina Celebs With A Madame Tussauds Wax Figure
1.PiaWurtzbach
Beauty queen and now-fashion-star Pia Wurtzbachwas the first Filipina to ever get a slot at the Madame Tussauds Museum. The Miss Universe 2015 titleholder's waxwork shows Pia holding her crown and gesturing to pass it to someone. On Madame Tussauds' website, the Cosmopolitan Philippines cover girl described her wax figure as an avenue to make people feel how to be crowned like a beauty queen. She remarked, " We want all of you to experience what it’s like to strike your most confidently beautiful pose and receive the crown for yourselves!"
Pia's gown was a replica of her unforgettable royal blue ball gown, lined with Swarovski crystals. It was designed and tailor-made by Filipino designer Michael Cinco, and it was Pia's gown when she passed the crown to her Miss Universe successor (Iris Mittenaere) in 2016.
Pia's wax figure was first unveiled in Madame Tussauds Hong Kong in 2019. But in March 2024, it was made accessible in Madame Singapore too. It was on display in Singapore until September 1, 2024.
2. Catriona Gray
Here's another beauty queen who was also ~ crowned ~ with her own Madame Tussauds figure. Catriona Gray mesmerized the universe with her stunning visuals and strong-willed personality that she exuded when she won Miss Universe 2018. Madame Tussauds recreated Catriona's winning look, putting the spotlight on Catriona's volcano-inspired Mak Tumang gown and her PH flag-inspired ear cuffs—which totally became a trend at the time.
3. Anne Curtis
Believe it or not, Anne Curtis is getting her own Madame Tussauds wax figure, and we're surely stoked for it! The 39-year-old actress's waxwork was confirmed by the renowned museum last December 2023. And although her wax figure is still in the works, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong has already been highlighting Anne's much-awaited impact on their museum.
Once finished, the actress and It's Showtime host is set to be the first Filipina to be included in Madame Tussauds Hong Kong's "Hong Kong Glamour Zone." The Glamour Zone also features other Hollywood stars, namely Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Chris Hemsworth, and more.
Who is the next Filipina celebrity that you want to see at Madame Tussauds?
