Children Grow and Learn with ChiChi & ChaCha Star Search

Only 50 shortlisted participants competed in the Challenge Round on Saturday where only the Top 10 moved on to the Grand Finals where they were judged based on 3P’s; Performance, Potential and Personality.

50 participants from as young as 6 to 18 years old competed for the chance to be the next ChiChi & ChaCha star at Main Place, USJ 21 on 15 and 16 November 2014. Aimed at providing children the opportunity to grow and learn social and leadership skills whilst showcasing their talents, the event was organised by proPassion Communications, a student PR consultancy of Taylor’s University.


proPassion Communications is led by Thaera Yousef, advisor and lecturer of Taylor’s University, coached by industry mentors, Group MAD and supported by Big Fish Media who owns the intellectual property of ChiChi & ChaCha, the first children’s edutainment series combining live action and 3D animated characters that recently premiered on Astro Ceria (Channel 611) and Astro Maya HD (Channel 135) on 11 October 2014.

Executive Producer of Big Fish Media, Jojo Struys shared, “Featuring a dynamic group of high energy TV hosts, ChiChi & ChaCha utilises various mediums such as song, dance, music, as well as 3D animation to create a positive environment that educates as well as entertains. The “Be The Next ChiChi & ChaCha Star” talent search complements our efforts and vision to ensure a fun-filled environment for children all around Malaysia to grow and learn.”


“To raise awareness of ChiChi & ChaCha, we were very happy to be able to collaborate and support proPassion by presenting them an opportunity to work on a real-time campaign,” added Struys.

Thaera Yousef said that the teaching approach for this project is experiential learning, where students learn through action, discovery and exploration.

“Being able to learn outside the classroom and have a hands-on experience is a powerful tool to develop students’ skills and gain knowledge of the industry,” added Thaera.


Prior to the event, hundreds of entrants submitted their 15-second-long video showcasing their dancing, beatboxing, singing and body-bending abilities among others via proPassions’s Instagram and through onsite prequalifying video shoots in multiple talent studios.


Only 50 shortlisted participants competed in the Challenge Round on Saturday to secure one of only ten spots in the Grand Finals where they were judged based on 3P’s; Performance, Potential and Personality.


At the end of the two-day event, beatboxer Leong Sawyer, 6, and singer-dancer Crystalbelle Wong Shiang Yi, 11, emerged as champions, earning them each a spot in the 2015 ChiChi & ChaCha roadshow where they will stand a chance to train, choreograph and perform with the show’s award-winning hosts, Sweet, Afiq, Farisha, Leen and Harris. The two winners also walked away with RM 1,000 in cash each.


Wong said, “I tried my best in the competition and I’m happy that many of my family and friends came out to support me today.”

The judging panel for the Grand Finals was made up of prominent locals like Genervie Kam, previously a judge on Astro Ria’s Akademi Fantasia, ChiChi & ChaCha TV host Harris, producer of the ChiChi & ChaCha show Ryan Gerard Felix, professional musician Stan Calvin and Cleona Lee, the general manager and stage director of Mizz Nina Production. Audiences also took part in the event by voting for their favourite contestant to receive “The Popularity Award”, which went to Leong for his entertaining beatboxing skills.


Sharing on his win, Leong, who has only been beatboxing for nine months said, “I’m happy that I won and I’m excited to go on tour.”


Struys added, “All the kids did such an amazing job and I’m just so shocked to see how young and how brave they are. They were so incredible.”

During the talent search, audiences were entertained by ChiChi & ChaCha mascots and learnt the ChiChi & ChaCha dance steps directly from the TV show’s hosts, Sweet and Harris, who have won top prizes in nationwide talent competitions like Idola Kecil and Ceria Popstar. Children also won exclusive ChiChi & ChaCha merchandises through a colouring contest that took place.

Even the kids having fun.. 

For the fifth year running, Group MAD collaborated with proPassion Communications as an industry mentor in providing students with practical advice on numerous events.

“At Group MAD, we strive to help clients improve performance by building great brands and inspiring leaders. Through the mentoring with proPassion, it is also a way of us playing a part in shaping these young leaders into the professionals that they will become in the future; by helping them to learn the ropes of the industry through hands-on experience,” said Crystal Koh, Group MAD Branding and Communications Senior Manager.

“We hope that it was a learning experience for them as much as it was for us as we are constantly inspired by their passion and willingness to learn,” added Koh.

The non-ticketed event was supported by BROS, Big Hug Burger, Faber-Castell Malaysia, Foodpanda, Kiz Sport & Gym, MacGician Distribution, Molly Fantasy, Planet Popcorn and Yites Studio.