Rachelle Ann Villalobos Go, better known as Rachelle Ann Go in showbiz, is a Filipina singer, model, and a stage actress. She was born on August 31, 1986 in Manila, Philippines and is of Chinese-Filipino descent. Her ticket to fame was when she joined Star for a Night (Search for a Star) hosted by actress and recording artist Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.
During her early years, Shin or Shin-Shin (as she is fondly called by relatives and friends) underwent vocal training and lessons to improve her inborn talent in singing. Even before she was only a year older, her father had long predicted that she’s going to be a star. True to her father’ words, she indeed became one! At nine years old, she joined in her first amateur singing contest and won first prize with her remarkable rendition of the song, And I Am Telling You. She was then the youngest contender that time in the said competition. After her winning, she became a veteran joining every singing competition and consistently winning them at the same time. She made her TV debut in the show Eat Bulaga when she was eleven years old. In the show’s contest, ‘Birit Baby’, Rachelle performed Celine Dion’s ‘All By Myself ‘and ended up winning as a runner up. Though she did not win the first prize, she was highly praised for giving justice to the said song.
In 2003, she auditioned for the second season of Search for a Star, the Philippines’ leading talent search. She qualified through the preliminary rounds and became one of the twelve contenders who vied for the most coveted recording contract prize. Rachelle was announced second Grand Champion in 2004 with her rendition of Mariah Carey’s ‘Through the Rain’. After that, she released her self-titled album in the same year with her singles Love of My Life a remake of the classic, Don’t Cry Out Loud. She then became busy with TV guestings and tours in and outside the country.
She even represented the Philippines in the Shanghai Music Festival where she ended up as silver medalist for the song “From the Start” composed by Vehnee Saturno. The said song also won Best Song in the same competition. She was named Most Promising Female Singer in 2005 by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
But since the showbiz world can be full of controversies, Rachelle has also her own share of controversy. She was then criticized for not having her own identity in singing style, copying the voices of Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera among others. She was even linked to several male celebrities like John Pratts, Jed Madela, Erik Santos, Luis Manzano, and Mark Bautista. But she denied being involved with them instead admitting that she is in a relationship with singer Christian Bautista.
Aside from being a singer, Rachelle is also into theater. In 2012, she won Best Actress in the musical “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” of Broadway World Philippines Awards. The next year, 2013, she again won Best Actress for the same musical. Aside from receiving numerous national awards and recognition, she was also recognized internationally. Some of which are Silver Medalist (as Interpreter)- Astana Song Festival and First Prize in the Best Own Country Song “Isang Lahi” (with Vehnee Saturno) – Astana Song Festival among others.
Rachelle Ann Go is a popular Filipina singer, actress, and commercial model. Rachelle was only eleven when she started her singing career. She joined the reality talent search entitled “Search For a Star” in the year 2004. She then became a Viva Artist and managed by the same agency. In “ASAP,” she also became a co-host and also a part of the SAS or Sunday All Stars in replacement of Party Pilipinas. On August 31, 1986, Rachelle was born to Oscar Go and Russel Villalobos Go. She is the eldest among four siblings. She finished her elementary and secondary education at the La Imaculada Concepcion School in Pasig City. In school, she was actively joining different organizations and was a member of the school’s choir. She studied her International Business and Entrepreneurship program at San Beda College but quit school when she competed in the reality talent search.
After she emerged champion in the search, she performed with “Salbakuta” and sang “Gloria” which she recorded and became an instant hit. She even appeared as a guest singer in Malacanang and sang in front of the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to the President’s delight. She had released her self-titled album with hit songs “Love Of My life,” and “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” included in the album. She had a US tour together with Sarah Geronimo and Erik Santos entitled, ‘Night of the Champions.” Rachelle had a duet with Christian Bautista “You and Me, (We Wanted It All)” which also became a blockbuster.
It was in 2005 that she was given the award “Best Promising Female Singer,” from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, and this signaled her first ever concert entitled, “Rachelle Ann Go: The Ultimate Champion,” which was a statement that she is ready to go solo as a recording artist. Several albums were released then, and hits after hits were achieved by Rachel, and some songs reached the Gold Status awards.
In 2012, she auditioned in “Miss Saigon” and passed the lead role of Kim, a role where Lea Salonga began her journey as an international star. She also had a theatre exposure in the Little Mermaid, the musical. It was this year that she is set to perform as Jane in the musical show “Tarzan,” shown last June 14 – July 7, 2013 at the Meralco theater in Pasig City, Philippines. Rachelle had a guest appearance in “The Ryzza Mae Show,” and even encouraged the little Miss to sing. She said that to attain your dreams, you must not stop until you reach your goals. That was very well said to a little girl who was still in awe listening to Rachel hit the belt with her favorite songs. She just thanks the Lord for all the blessings and for giving her the voice and talent she can share with the people. Rachel is not afraid to even help coach aspiring singers. Currently, Rachel is visible in different TV shows in GMA, and trusts that the management takes real good care of her singing career.
