Lea Salonga, the Filipino theater legend, has been immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds Singapore, with the unveiling of her figure at Solaire Resort in Parañaque City on September 14.
The wax figure of Lea Salonga, known for her illustrious career in musical theater, including her roles in Miss Saigon, Aladdin, and Mulan, will be a permanent fixture in the museum’s Music Zone starting September 20. Salonga’s career highlights span from winning Tony and Olivier Awards to being the first Asian to perform the role of Éponine in Les Misérables.
The selection process for Madame Tussauds’ next wax celebrity icon is meticulous, with input from fans, trade, and ministry partners. Elaine Quek, head of sales and marketing at Madame Tussauds Singapore, emphasized that Lea Salonga was the resounding choice for the Philippine market due to her inspirational impact globally. Crafting Salonga’s figure took six months, involving detailed measurements right down to the color of her eyes, hair, and teeth, and sometimes even X-ray scans for precision.
The wax figure is dressed in one of Salonga’s favorite dresses, designed by Rajo Laurel, which holds personal significance as she has worn it in various performances worldwide. Salonga expressed that the dress, being simple and comfortable, felt right to be part of her wax figure. Her figure’s pose was also carefully chosen to reflect her dynamic stage presence, as if she is about to perform.
Reflecting on her childhood dreams, Salonga recounted her visits to Madame Tussauds and her memories of iconic figures like Liza Minnelli and Princess Diana. She expressed a sense of surreal achievement that she now joins this illustrious group, fulfilling a dream she once joked about with her mother.
Salonga’s wax figure marks another milestone for Filipino representation on the global stage. Madame Tussauds Singapore aims to expand its collection to include more Asian icons, with Salonga’s inclusion being a significant step in this direction. This achievement follows other notable Filipino personalities, such as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, all of whom have their own wax figures unveiled in recent years.
Lea Salonga’s wax figure at Madame Tussauds Singapore not only celebrates her outstanding contributions to musical theater but also underscores the growing recognition of Filipino talent on the world stage.
Source: Rappler