Throughout "Your Face Sounds Familiar" Season 4, Jason Dy owned every gender-switch performance that the ‘iconator’ threw his way, as if he made it his signature on the show. In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN Studios, the Prince of Soul shared that taking on female icons really deepened his respect for women in the industry.
But if there's one transformation that truly cemented his reputation as one of the season's most versatile frontrunners, it was his third gender-switch, his electrifying portrayal of American rapper Cardi B, performing the chart-topping banger "I Like It,” which also earned him his second win in the competition.
When hosts Jhong Hilario and Vhong Navarro asked how it felt to step out of his comfort zone and rap on stage for the first time, Jason opened up, "'Yong mga previous na gender-switch ko, mahirap na 'yon, ah? Pero ito added challenge pa kasi nagra-rap naman ako. Ibang discipline ang pagra-rap. Hindi lang siya basta nagsasabi ka ng mga word nang mabilis—may cadence, may rhythm. Iba talaga. So, saludo ako sa lahat ng mga rapper."
The judges were equally blown away. Ogie Alcasid marveled at the intense dedication Jason poured into the number—from memorizing the rap lyrics to nailing the high-energy choreography. Gary Valenciano echoed the sentiment, noting that Jason disappeared so completely into the character that there was no trace of himself left on stage—a hallmark, he said, of a truly outstanding performance. Sharon Cuneta, meanwhile, praised Jason for not just mimicking Cardi's look, but fully embodying her attitude and stage command.
Among Jason's many standout acts in the competition, this Cardi B win has earned its place in his personal favorites. It his debut as a rapper on the "YFSF" stage, backed by one of the most elaborate production numbers of the season.
Also making the cut is his spot-on portrayal of Sam Smith, which secured his very first win on the show—and caught the attention of the British icon himself, who reacted with a heart emoji to Jason's social media post of the transformation. And of course, you can never forget the first one—his debut on the “YFSF” stage as Erik Santos, which he described as nerve-wracking since he was still finding his footing on the show.
Will Jason emerge as the season's Grand Winner? Catch the “Your Face Sounds Familiar" Grand Showdown, starting April 5, 7:15PM on Kapamilya Channel, ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and iWant.