Former Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) housemate Kolette Madelo admits that life after the reality show left her questioning which path she should pursue.
Kolette, who finished as the 3rd Big Placer of Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11 in 2024, knows that flourishing in the entertainment industry requires continuous skill-building.
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"Actually, every day, kine-question ko yung sarili ko kung ano ba talaga yung gagawin ko after, kung hanggang dito lang ba talaga yung kayang gawin," the 22-year-old Kapamilya talent told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an exclusive interview.
The conversation took place on February 13, 2026, during a pocket press conference for her upcoming benefit concert Ikalawang YUGTO: Buhay at Pag-Ibig, where she will be performing alongside IV of Spades, fellow PBB housemate Kai Montinola, and It's Showtime's "Tawag ng Tanghalan Duets" Season 2 grand winners Arvery Lagoring and Christian Tibayan.
Continuing, Kolette said, "Siyempre as an artist, hindi puwedeng mag-stick ka lang kung ano yung gusto mo. So you need to explore more talents kung ano yung mga kaya mong gawin.
"So para marami kang pagpipilian, ayan, and then siguro mas ano pa, mas gusto ko pang mag-excel sa ibang bagay."
KOLETTE MADELO: CAREER PATH
Now, two years after the show aired, Kolette is steadily carving out her place in the industry as both an actress and a performer.
She currently stars in the primetime series What Lies Beneath and regularly performs on ASAP, solidifying her rise as one of the entertainment scene’s most promising new talents.
Although she enjoys acting, Kolette admits that performing is something she hopes to pursue more seriously in the future.
So when did she realize her passion for performing? According to Kolette, it all began during her time inside the PBB house.
In her words, "Nag-start yung passion ko for performing, actually, nung nasa loob na talaga ko ng Bahay ni Kuya.
"Pero nung hindi pa ako pumasok sa loob ng Bahay ni Kuya, ang na-discover ko lang talaga sa sarili ko yung pagka-hilig ko sa kanta.
"And siguro hindi ko pa totally nalabas yung side ko na mag-perform or sumayaw habang kumakanta.
"Doon ko na lang siya na-discover sa loob ng Bahay ni Kuya, na kaya ko palang mag-perform, sumayaw habang kumakanta.
"And yun naman, sobrang for me sobrang blessed ko kasi need ko pa siya talagang i-improve."
After her PBB season ended, Kolette continued honing her craft, enrolling in dance classes to further improve her skills.
She said, "Meron akong pinapasukan na school na dance school ganun, dance class.
"And ayun pinagpatuloy ko naman yung pagsayaw ko.
"And sumasama-sama akong sa mga friends ko na nagti-training sa dance. So parang nahahasa na din ako."
She draws inspiration from Sarah Geronimo and Maja Salvador—her biggest idols on the dance floor.
When asked what she admires most about Sarah and Maja, Kolette shared, "Siyempre, unang-una, magaling silang sumayaw, magaling silang kumanta.
"Parang kumbaga, pag sinabi mong sino yung idol mo pagdating sa performing, straightforward na isasagot ko: Sarah at Maja.
"Kasi simula nung bata pa ako, sila na talaga. Parang hindi na na-program yung utak ko sa iba—kumbaga, sila na ‘yun."
Kolette added, "Iba yung galawan talaga nila—yung talagang swag na swag. So kapag sinabing mag-perform si Sarah o si Maja, talagang manonood ako."
IKALAWANG YUGTO: BUHAY AT PAG-IBIG
Kolette is both excited and nervous to showcase how much she has grown as a performer in Ikalawang YUGTO: Buhay at Pag-Ibig, happening on March 27, 2026.
She shared, “Sa sobrang lapit, sobrang kinakabahan na rin ako kasi first time kong makasama yung mga sobrang kilalang pangalan sa music, gaya ng IV of Spades.
"Sobrang excited kasi first time ko rin silang makasama… and sina Christian and Arvery. Si Kai Montinola na palagi ko namang nakakasama. Ayun, sobrang excited lang.”
When asked whether fans can expect a different Kolette on stage this time, she confidently said definitely.
"Siyempre ang aabangan nila, kung dati medyo parang hindi pa nage-gets yung mga sayaw-sayaw ko kasi first time ko din yun.
"Pero ngayon, i-expect talaga nila na more pa, more pa yung power, more power. More pa yung ilalabas natin sa Yugto."
She added, "Sa benefit concert na Yugto, talaga masasabi kong kakaiba compare natin sa last na mga performance ko kasi napapaghandaan ko na talaga siyang mahayos.
"Ito kasi parang gusto ko sulit, sulit yung mga manonood sa Yugto."
Kolette shared that she has already begun preparing for her segment, starting with vocal warm-ups and dedicated dance training.
For her, every performance demands her full commitment, so she makes sure she’s completely prepared before stepping on stage.
"Naghahanda po ako sa pamamagitan siguro ng nagwa-warm-up ako ng boses ko...
"Nagti-train ako ng sayaw kasi siyempre pag lumabas tayo sa isang performance, dapat all in yung ano natin, yung performance."
More than anything, Kolette takes pride in being part of a charity concert aimed at helping those in need, with the beneficiaries set to be revealed during the show.
"Nakasaya po ng puso kasi aside sa mga fans, makakatulong din tayo para sa mga tao na ma-papa-enjoy natin sila."
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