A quiet introduction, a deep breath, and then one of Whitney Houston’s most demanding songs.
Kristel Herrera stepped onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage with a simple dream: to perform in front of the King. She looked nervous as she faced the judges, but that changed completely once the music began.
Her choice was “Run to You” by Whitney Houston, a song Kristel knew well. In fact, she had performed the same song years earlier on Philippine television.
Kristel’s connection with singing competitions goes back much further than her BGT appearance. She began singing at around nine years old and later competed on the first season of Little Big Star in 2005. She reached the wildcard stage but did not become one of the finalists.
Her next major television opportunity came in 2020 through Tawag ng Tanghalan, the singing competition segment of It’s Showtime. Representing Sampaloc, Manila, Kristel performed “Run to You” and earned a 95.5 average score in the face-off round, allowing her to advance.
Six years later, she brought the same song to a completely different stage.
There was another striking similarity. Kristel wore yellow for both performances, creating an unexpected connection between her 2020 appearance in the Philippines and her 2026 audition in Britain.
Her life had also changed considerably during those years. She eventually moved to England and settled in Halifax, West Yorkshire, with her husband, Joshua Mumby.
Joshua had already been part of one important chapter in Kristel’s television journey. During her Tawag ng Tanghalan appearance, he surprised her with a marriage proposal through a video call. She accepted, and the couple later married.
He was also in the audience for her Britain’s Got Talent audition.
The judges were not expecting that voice
Kristel’s nervousness was easy to notice before the performance. Her quiet manner made the reaction from the judges even stronger once she began singing.
Her voice quickly filled the theatre, and she showed the control and range needed for such a demanding song. The audience responded with a standing ovation.
Amanda Holden was particularly surprised by the change in Kristel’s presence. Her famous reaction was: “You turned into a complete diva, baby!”
Alesha Dixon praised Kristel’s vocal technique, while KSI said he wanted to see more from her. Stacey Solomon, who was standing in for Simon Cowell during the audition, also noticed the way Kristel moved between her head voice and chest voice.
Stacey’s comments went beyond the technical side of the performance. She felt Kristel did not seem to realize just how talented she was.
Four yes votes sent Kristel through to the next stage.
Her journey continued into the live semifinals, where she chose a different song, “Die On This Hill” by Sienna Spiro. The performance showed that her BGT audition was not simply a one-off moment. She could deliver another demanding performance under the pressure of a live show.
Kristel ultimately did not receive enough public votes to reach the grand final. She did not win Britain’s Got Talent, but the competition gave her a much larger audience in the UK.
What Kristel Herrera is doing now
The end of Kristel’s BGT journey was not the end of her performing career.
A new opportunity arrived soon after the show. In July 2026, Bournemouth Pavilion announced Kristel as Princess Jasmine in its Christmas production of Aladdin.
The production is scheduled to run from December 5, 2026, through January 3, 2027.
The role is a natural fit for Kristel’s background. Her career has included singing competitions, online performances and theatre work, including productions such as Robin Hood and The Wizard of Oz.
Princess Jasmine gives her the chance to bring those skills together on a professional stage. She will need to sing, act, perform regularly and connect with a live audience throughout the production.
Her path has certainly taken a few unexpected turns.
A young Kristel first appeared on Philippine television in 2005. She continued singing for years, returned to a major competition in 2020, moved to Britain, built a life there, and eventually found herself performing the same Whitney Houston song again on Britain’s Got Talent.
This time, her husband was watching from the audience.
She may not have reached the BGT final, but the audition introduced Kristel to a new audience and helped lead to another significant stage opportunity.
For a singer who has spent much of her life performing, that next opportunity may be more important than a competition trophy.