Charice Pempengco is a Filipina pop, R&B and rock singer who became an internet sensation after the video of her performance in a talent show went viral on YouTube. Her rise to fame is truly a rags-to-riches story; escaping from an abusive father, she and her family lived in poverty for years, with a young Charice singing to support her mother financially. Eventually, a fan of her acted as the Good Samaritan and uploaded videos of her energetic performances on YouTube, which earned her recognition from all over the world. Soon, she received invitation to record an album, and appeared on American television shows like 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' and 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'. She also found a mentor in David Foster, who has been a producer for stars like Céline Dion, Andrea Bocelli, and Whitney Houston—all her idols. She was hailed as the “Most Talented Girl in the World” by none other than Oprah herself. She went on to release a number of albums and perform at concerts, but her career suffered after she publicly revealed her sexual orientation.
