At just 21 years old, Gwyn Dorado has done something no other Filipina singer has done before.
She finished second place in the grand finale of the Korean television singing competition “Sing Again 4,” held on January 6 — standing proudly as the only foreign contestant among the finalists.
On the final night, Dorado went head-to-head with three Korean singers: Lee O Wook, Kim Jae-min, and Slowly. Despite the pressure, she delivered a powerful performance of “Light Up,” earning a final score of 3,009.39.
It was enough to secure second place, just behind champion Lee O Wook, who scored 3,051.06.
But Dorado’s journey to the finale was already historic.
A Record That Stopped the Show
In the previous round, Dorado stunned judges and viewers alike with her performance of “I Want You.”
The result?
798 out of 800 points.
It was the highest score in the history of the season — a moment that sealed her place not just as a finalist, but as a standout.
From Child Prodigy to Global Performer
Born Gwyneth Dorado, her story has been years in the making.
Filipinos first met her in 2015, when she competed as a 10-year-old finalist on “Asia’s Got Talent Season 1.” Singing Katy Perry’s “Roar,” she earned four yeses from all judges — Anggun, David Foster, Melanie C, and Vanness Wu.
She would go on to reach the Top 5, standing alongside fellow Filipino finalists El Gamma Penumbra and Gerphil Flores.
A year later, she was given another rare honor — singing the Philippine National Anthem during the State of the Nation Address of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
A New Chapter in Korea
In February 2024, Dorado officially began a new era after signing a five-year contract with South Korean agency A.O Entertainment.
Since then, she has released “What If,” the official soundtrack of the K-drama “ToGetHer,” followed by the digital single “Way,” marking her official debut in South Korea.
Each release pushed her further — not just as a contestant, but as an artist carving her place in a foreign industry.
A Second Chance, Fully Earned
“Sing Again” is a competition designed to give overlooked, forgotten, or underrated singers a second chance — from former idols to indie artists and long-inactive performers.
For Gwyn Dorado, it became more than that.
It became proof that talent knows no borders — and that a Filipina voice can rise, shine, and nearly win it all on one of Korea’s biggest stages.
And this, clearly, is only the beginning.
