Influencer Sofia “Fyang” Smith has officially entered show business following her victory on the hit reality show Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11.
Sofia “Fyang” Smith has emerged as the grand winner of the latest season of the hit reality show Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11.
The influencer secured her victory on Saturday, October 26, 2024, with 30.66% of viewer votes, marking the end of her 14-week rollercoaster journey inside the PBB house.
Photo/s: Sofia Smith (Instagram)
Fyang now joins the ranks of former PBB winners, including Nene Tamayo, Bea Saw, Ejay Falcon, Melai Cantiveros, James Reid, Slater Young, Maymay Entrata, and Kim Chiu.
Like her predecessors, Fyang hopes to leverage her victory as a launchpad for a fruitful showbiz career.
Whether Fyang will match or surpass the achievements of previous winning housemates who found success in the entertainment business remains to be seen.
But in the meantime, get to know more about the newest Pinoy Big Brother winner with these interesting facts.
She’s a Taurus
Fyang was born on May 14, 2006, making her 18 years old at the time of her victory in PBB.
Photo/s: Sofia Smith (Instagram)
“Interestingly, some pointed out that Fyang was born just a year after the debut of Pinoy Big Brother on ABS-CBN and was less than a month old when the show’s third season, Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 1—where Kim Chiu eventually won—began airing.
A city girl
Fyang was born and raised in Mandaluyong City.
Only four of the 20 participants in this edition of PBB came from the National Capital Region (NCR).
This is hardly surprising given the show’s tradition of featuring participants from across the Philippines and even overseas.
What makes Fyang’s victory particularly noteworthy is that she is the first winner from NCR since 2014, breaking the streak of victories by contestants—Maymay Entrata, Yamyam Gucong, Liofer Pinatacan, and Anji Salvacion—from outside Luzon.
EDUCATION
Fyang is studying at Jose Rizal University (JRU) in Mandaluyong.
Other celebrities who are alumni of JRU are basketball player-turned-comedian Jimmy Santos, former PBA player and now Bulakan, Bulacan Mayor Vergel Meneses, basketball legend Philip Cezar, and actor and former Quezon City 2nd District Councilor Roderick Paulate.
Fyang’s parents
Fyang had mentioned in the past that her mother, Myrna Smith, was an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), which contributed to the hardships she faced while growing up.
Photo/s: Sofia Smith (Instagram)
She recalled her mother getting food items from sari-sari stores on credit “para lang may makain” and “umabot pa nun sa point na asin na lang yung ulam.”
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Meanwhile, netizens took notice of Fyang’s foreigner dad, Joshua Smith, and his striking “artistahin” looks.
The exact details of her parents’ relationship are somewhat unclear, but it is said that they separated and eventually reconciled in recent years.
Her dad is said to be a businessman who has worked as a financial analyst and senior product specialist, among other roles, for various companies.
This raised doubts among skeptics who questioned Fyang’s claim of growing up in poverty and struggling to make ends meet.
Photo/s: Sofia Smith (Instagram)
Fyang, however, stated that she is estranged from her father, and only knows that he is a businessman.
Tattoos
She has tattoos on her neck, back, and right and left arms.
Photo/s: Sofia Smith (Instagram)
Content creator
Fyang was not entirely unknown when she joined PBB as a housemate.
She is a social media influencer whose content spans fashion, lifestyle, and beauty.
Her playful moniker upon entering the Bahay ni Kuya was “Amakabogera Influencer of Mandaluyong.”
This indicates that Fyang already had a fan base when she joined the popular reality show, likely providing significant support for her PBB campaign.
Photo/s: Sofia Smith (Instagram)
Fyang’s journey as a content creator began at the age of 16.
According to her, she was driven by her desire to earn money to support herself and her family.
Her followers are only expected to grow following her PBB win, as she gains more attention this time as a celebrity.
The fact that over 2.26 million concurrent viewers reportedly tuned in to watch the finale of PBB certainly bodes well for Fyang exposure-wise.
LOVES SNEAKERS
Fyang has a passion for collecting perfumes and Jordan shoes.
WHO IS HER SHOWBIZ CRUSH?
Fyang cites actor and singer Kyle Echarri as her celebrity crush in show business.
Like Fyang, Kyle is also a product of reality television, having joined The Voice Kids in 2015.
FRANK AND OPINIONATED
Her stay in the PBB house gave the public a glimpse of Fyang’s feisty personality.
Fyang’s outspoken nature and spunky attitude have led to clashes with her fellow housemates, resulting in her nomination for eviction seven times.
Despite these challenges, she persevered and successfully advanced to win it all.
While her confrontational personality may annoy some, others find it endearing and entertaining, with netizens praising her for being true to herself and others.
Ironically, the very traits that threatened her stay in Bahay ni Kuya contributed to her later success and ultimately propelled her to victory.
