The journey of Gehlee Dangca from Las Piñas, Philippines, to international stage is nothing short of inspiring.
Early Life and Background
Her birth name is Gehlee Gimena Dangca, born on August 19, 2007, into a family with a strong bond and Christian values.
Her two brothers, Third and Galvin, are part of her supportive environment that has played a crucial role in her development as an individual
Now 16 years old, Gehlee, also known affectionately as Cherry or Gehl, studied in San Beda College Alabang and St. Paul College Pasig.
Her involvement in local beauty pageants showcased her grace and poise, earning her the affectionate nickname "Princess" from her peers.
Hobbies and Interests
She enjoys eating, napping, playing the ukulele, drawing, singing, reading, playing some video games, and applying makeup.
Career Beginnings
Gehlee's foray into the limelight began early at the tender age of 12 when she entered the world of pageantry and fashion modeling.
She is currently a model for local brands of skin care, apparel, fashion, and flower-related industries. Gehlee also took on ambassadorial roles for several organizations.
Gehlee's most significant career milestone to date has been her participation in the SBS survival show Universe Ticket.
Before getting on stage to perform solo and with their peers, each of the Universe Ticket contestant is asked to create a video introduction about what their “universe” looks like.
In this regard, Gehlee highlighted her identity as a Filipina.
She started her little speech by drawing a flag of the Philippines.
“This is… the flag of my country, the Philippines.
“Okay, the reason why I drew this is because the Philippines is filled with a lot of amazing and hospitable people. They're very, very friendly to tourists and they love interacting with new people.
“There are also a lot of amazing spots in the Philippines because we've got a ton of islands that you can visit, a ton of beaches that you can spend your summer in.
“And another reason as to why I'm drawing this is because with my experience in pageantry, I'm really, really proud to be representing the Philippines. And it's not new for me to be doing this.
“It's new now because instead of a pageant, it's an audition, which was a little intimidating at first because it's quite different. But there are similarities, which is why I'm not that afraid. I've got a lot of courage in me.
“And so, for a while, I wanted to be Miss Universe. But today, I guess I'm striving to become Miss Universe… Ticket!
“Alright, so that's why I drew my flag, the Philippines. Thank you.”
Universe Ticket Rise to fame
Universe Ticket is a South Korean reality competition series created by SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System), aimed at forming an eight-member girl group with a contract of two years and six months.
The final group, UNIS, is set to debut under F&F Entertainment, a newly established company related to the clothing brand F&F.
The show targetting global audiences with activities planned both in the real world and in the metaverse premiered on November 18, 2023, with each of the 82 participants in a series of missions eyeing to become member of the newly formed K-pop girl group.
PRISM’s pyramid-level system
The show introduced the PRISM pyramid-level system, a rigorous ranking mechanism that tests the mettle of its contestants. In this ranking system, M is the lowest while having a place in rank P means the aspirant is declared a part of the final line-up of the girl group.
Gehlee's journey through PRISM was a rollercoaster of emotions, from being placed in the low level to her eventual rise to the S class, proving her skills and dedication.
She was in rank R before she was finally promoted as the fourth member of UNIS, the girl group formed after the conclusion of Universe Ticket.
Convincing the fans to support her
Aside from their performances, the number of votes the contestants get from the audience is also one of the criteria that can help push their rank higher than their fellow trainees.
As such, each aspirant in Universe Ticket is asked to submit a “video resume” to convince the viewers to vote for them.
This was what Gehlee had to say when it was her turn, “I have the ability to embody confidence when I'm on stage. I'm very charming, so my charm will make you refuse to look away.
"And the last reason is because I want to make people smile and for people to feel genuine happiness when I perform.
"And I know that it takes a lot of hard work and effort, which is why I'm taking it all as a challenge, so that I'll be worthy enough for all of your love.”
Securing a spot in the final line-up
Against all odds, Gehlee's unwavering determination and impressive performances in missions like "Ticket To You" and "Nan" by CLON propelled her to the top.
Her successful climb up the PRISM ladder culminated in her securing a coveted spot in the final line-up.
She is the second Filipina declared to be one of the official members of UNIS, with Elisia Parmisano being the first.