Season 11 of The Masked Singer got here to an in depth on Wednesday as The Goldfish was topped the brand new champion, and revealed herself to be none aside from Vanessa Hudgens.
Talking with ET’s Nischelle Turner on Wednesday, Hudgens, 35, opened up about her thrilling Masked Singer journey, and the way the anonymity the present supplied gave her a sense of freedom she’d by no means felt earlier than.
“It was undoubtedly fairly the experience,” Hudgens mentioned with a smile. “A experience I didn’t suppose would have an effect on me so deeply.”
“I’ve been within the highlight for a lot of, many moons now, and there’s only a preconceived thought, I believe, if you see your self on stage, that you just’re accustomed to,” she continued, “and with the ability to take that away and be utterly stripped of that and present up as myself and really feel utterly free to take action, as a result of I used to be utterly lined up, actually simply gave me this sense of freedom that I hadn’t had in a minute. And it was actually empowering.”
Based on Hudgens — who’s presently pregnant along with her first youngster with husband Cole Tucker — she determined to signal on to take part within the Fox sequence as a result of it aligned along with her present profession aspirations.
“It got here to me on the good time,” Hudgens mentioned. “We had been on a strike and I used to be attempting to determine my subsequent transfer, and that is the area that I really may work in.”
“And my followers have been asking for me to sing extra,” she added, “I used to be like, ‘Effectively, that is the way in which to offer it to them and see who the actual followers are!’ And so they undoubtedly confirmed up.”
Hudgens would up incomes the Golden Masks Trophy, introduced by host Nick Cannon, after delivering some powerhouse performances that wowed the viewers and left an impression on the present’s panel of “celeb detectives” — together with Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong and Rita Ora.
The season finale noticed Hudgens as The Goldfish beat out runner-up The Gumball, who was revealed to be actor and singer Scott Porter.
Now, with this large win underneath her belt, Hudgens is wanting towards her thrilling future — each as a performer and as a spouse and expectant mother.
“I’m simply so stoked and really feel so grateful,” Hudgens shared. “I really feel just like the extra you may acknowledge the magic that’s round you, the extra it continues to current itself, and that’s type of been the prepare that I’ve been on for a very good few years now and it by no means fails.”
Hudgens debuted her child bump on the 2024 Academy Awards pink carpet, the place she surprised in a black robe. The large reveal got here months after Hudgens and Tucker — who performs ball for the Los Angeles Angels — tied the knot at Azulik Metropolis of Arts in Tulum, Mexico, on Dec. 2, 2023, in entrance of 100 of their closest family and friends.
Since information of her being pregnant broke, Hudgens mentioned she’s been flooded with messages of help, love and recommendation from different ladies within the trade. Amongst them is her former Excessive College Musical co-star, Ashley Tisdale.
Tisdale — who can also be anticipating her second child with husband Christopher French — took half in a Q&A by way of Instagram Stories the place she mentioned of Hudgens’ being pregnant, “It’s very cool! I’m so excited for her and this new chapter in her life.”
Hudgens addressed the help she’s acquired, telling ET, “It’s wonderful! I imply it’s actually unimaginable, if you attain a brand new level of your life, how ladies present up. And, like, new ladies have been exhibiting up in ways in which I haven’t anticipated.”
“Its simply been actually lovely with the ability to lean on this group, who’re simply innately such nurturers,” Hudgens added.
Take a look at the gallery beneath for a take a look at each single contestant who has ever needed to “take it off” all through the historical past of The Masked Singer.
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