Princess Snell was a familiar face when she appeared as one of the hopefuls in StarStruck V. This was because she wasn't really new to show business.

Before joining the GMA-7 reality-based artista search, Princess was already a model and had been introduced before as one of the talents of Star Magic, ABS-CBN's talent arm. Then she was known as Cristina Snell. Two of her batchmates were Guji Lorenzana and Kristel Moreno.

She had also appeared in several ABS-CBN shows, like the afternoon fantasy-drama Kambal sa Uma and a short stint in I Love Betty La Fea, both in 2009.

The former Kapamilya star, whose full name is Princess Tinkerbell Cristina Marjorie Snell, said she decided to try her luck in StarStruck V after her contract with Star Magic expired.

"One day naisip ko, 'Bakit hindi ako sumali sa StarStruck?' Unang-una, maganda 'yong buildup sa 'yo, so sabi ko, 'Sige ita-try ko.' 'Yon nga, maganda naman 'yong nangyari sa akin.  At the same time, may mga guesting at show naman na nangyayari, and may hinihintay rin akong trabaho ngayon. So, happy naman ako sa lahat ng nakuha ko," she related to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during the StarStruck V visit to the Summit Media office in Mandaluyong City yesterday, April 16.

Princess did not mind going through a series of tests again if it meant having a better exposure in show business.

"Actually, mahirap nga," she told PEP. "Pero the thing is ngayon, parang dati hindi ako nakikilala. As of now, kapag narinig nilang Princess Snell, alam nilang ako 'yon. It's different na parang alam lang nila na nasa Star Magic ako. It's different din na alam nila 'yong name ko. At the same time, kung nagbi-buildup ka ng career, kung hindi ka makikilala, paano ka makakahanap ng trabaho? So, happy talaga ako sa pagbi-build up sa akin dito sa StarStruck. Dito sa GMA-7, maayos na ang pagha-handle sa akin."

Princess now appears on the weekly showbiz talk show Startalk and Q11's entertainment show Tweetbiz.

LATE FOR HER BIRTHDAY PARTY. Quite early in her career, Princess has already been the subject of several intrigues, even at her own birthday party.

PEP reported on PEP Alerts last Wednesday, April 14, that the StarStruck alumna kept her guests waiting for a few hours at the Icon bar of the Intercontinental Hotel.

Princess, who was celebrating her 18^th birthday, explained that she had to take care of her mother hours before the party.

She said, "Actually, 'yong time na 'yon, 10 p.m. 'yong sinabi kong time. 'Yong mom ko, mga hapon pa lang, parang iba na 'yong feeling niya, may goiter kasi 'yong mom ko. Sabi ko sa kanya, pumunta na lang siya sa hospital. Sinamahan ko nga siya sa hospital sa Alabang kasi taga-Laguna talaga kami. 

"Ang ginawa ko, hindi ko naman talaga maiwan ang nanay ko doon para lang pumunta sa party ko. Hindi ko gagawin 'yon. So, noong time na parang 11:00, natutulog na ang nanay ko, doon lang ako umalis at saka pumunta sa party. Siyempre, sayang naman 'yon, e, nabayaran na lahat-lahat, so I have to go there. At saka minsan lang naman mag-birthday at mag-celebrate, so kailangan ko ring pumunta."

Princess said she was not able to inform her guests, especially the media, about being late because she was so preoccupied with her mom.

"Kasi kapag nandoon ka sa time na 'yon, na marami kang iniisip, bakit mo pa iisipin 'yong tao? Iisipin mo muna 'yong pamilya mo. First priority ko is family ko. Kung ano ang mangyari sa kanila wala na akong pakialam, basta uunahin ko sila. Ganun akong tao, kasi tumutulong din ako sa kanila," Princess related to PEP.