Jay Chan II is Just Getting Started

Jay had entertainment in mind when he auditioned through Starhunt. Having performed since childhood and spent years creating content, he imagined a search for the next Chinoy actors or singers, an opportunity to put his talents in front of people who might help him take them further. A pageant was a surprise, delivered through a confirmation message informing him that he was now an official delegate for Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global Philippines 2026.

Jay at his Cebu audition, where the journey began.

By then, he had a decision to make. He knew very little about pageantry, and some of what he did know made him hesitate, particularly the physical expectations he felt he would have to meet. He considered backing out before deciding to see where the unexpected invitation might lead.

“Maybe if I was a foot taller, I would have full confidence, but genuinely, I already knew my height was going to be a problem in a pageant, so I had to lean on my other strengths throughout the journey.”

And those strengths would become increasingly apparent over the following weeks, as the Cebuano performer found his place in a competition he had never planned to enter.

A performer finding his footing in pageantry.

A Performer Among New Company

Articulate and engaging, Jay expresses himself with an ease that makes his performing background unsurprising. He is fun, polite, and enthusiastic about the things that interest him, whether that means singing, making a video, or persuading a fellow candidate to join an idea he has already worked out.

His singing, in particular, offered a glimpse of the opportunities that might be available to him with the right audience. Even while he was learning the conventions of pageantry, he had years of experience to draw from.

Jay had been involved with theater companies since childhood and was working in Cebu City as a freelance video editor and events performer. Online, he was building a following of his own, with more than 20k YouTube subscribers listed in his candidate brief. Becoming a full-time creator or entertainer was an ambition he was already putting work into.

Still, entering a room with models and experienced in pageants, could make those accomplishments feel smaller. Jay admitted to wondering almost every day what he had gotten himself into, although the people who initially intimidated him would eventually become some of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

Creating content helped. He usually approached fellow candidates with a concept, along with a reference, conscious of making the process easy for whoever joined him. With Ben, who would eventually be crowned the winner, that included recreating anime poses that produced very fun content to watch.

Jay remembered those moments fondly. Having his fellow competitors became friends, and the unfamiliar company began to feel like an extended family.

With his sights on theater, music, and screen, Jay is ready to see where this new chapter leads.

What It Took to Be There

The journey involved flights from Cebu, accommodations, work he would have to set aside, and gigs he could no longer accept. Behind the appearances and videos were expenses he was shouldering himself.

“It was rough having to fly back and forth from Cebu, shouldering all expenses from travels to accommodations and all other necessities.”

There were arrangements to coordinate with his parents and partner, difficult nights, and doubts that grew alongside the costs.

“I really just didn’t think I’d have a shot at the title, nor did I think that I would have much opportunities afterwards if I didn’t win.”

Continuing meant investing in something whose outcome he could not predict. The pageant also brought discoveries about his Chinese heritage, which he already took pride in but wanted to understand more closely after spending time with fellow Chinoy candidates.

“Like, yes, I look Chinese and I carry a Chinese last name, but as far as culture, as far as language, I am so far behind compared to some of my fellow candidates, which is definitely something I am now actively working on.”

That willingness to acknowledge what he still wanted to learn became part of his experience, alongside finding ways to share what he already knew.

A Little More Confidence

On Winners’ night, Jay learned he had finished as second runner-up through the people around him. He had not heard his full name when his fellow candidates began cheering and hugging him, their excitement reaching him before the announcement did.

Having received no special award during the competition, he felt the recognition deeply.

“And now, for the first time, when my name was called up on that stage, I finally felt seen.”

He hopes the experience will open doors in theater, music, content creation, television, and film. Asked what he would tell the Jay who first auditioned, he offered advice that suggests he is learning to trust what he brings: “Sing when someone asks you to sing, dance when someone asks you to dance.”

During the pageant, there were smaller lessons as well. One Instagram Story showed fellow candidate Timothy Tan helping Jay learn to commute around Manila, the two riding the train together. It was an affectionate glimpse of a friendship developing amid the demands of the competition, and of Jay getting acquainted with a city that could hold more possibilities for him.

He came looking for an opportunity to perform and found himself learning far more along the way. With a second runner-up finish behind him, there is good reason to keep watching.