XOXO members Riel, Lyra, Dani, and Mel look back on early days, share how girl group changed their life

Much has changed for the members of XOXO ever since they were brought together as a girl group.

The Kapuso P-pop girl group guested on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" on Friday, where members Riel Lomadilla, Lyra Micolob, Dani Ozaraga, and Mel Caluag recalled their experiences joining singing contests years ago.

The four are alumnae of "The Clash" Season 1 that premiered on GMA Network in 2018, but they have also done their share of singing contests here and there prior to the reality talent competition show.

Lyra told Tita Boy that she also joined a national contest on TV before and her family expected to see her onscreen. However, Lyra said that her part was not aired on TV, which left her devastated, adding that she did not want to join a singing contest again after that experience.

Mel, who hails from Bulacan, would also participate singing events in their province. She recalled one embarrassing moment when she had to sing onstage in a gown, only for her bra to come undone. Luckily, the audience did not see the mishap and Mel laughingly shared that she just hid her bra under her gown using her foot.

Dani's was also an embarrassing moment, as she shared that she tripped onstage during a singing competition.

"Pagpasok na pagpasok ko po sa stage, Tito Boy, nadapa po ako, tapos sabay sabay 'yung mga tao, 'Ay!'" she said. "Maganda pa rin. Inilaban pa rin, nanalo pa rin naman po."

Riel on her end didn't join a lot of singing competitions growing up because she was scared she'd get rejected. However, she joined one competition in grade school during Linggo ng Wika, where the moms of the other participants accused her of lip-syncing because, well, she must've been that good!

While none of the girls reigned victorious in "The Clash," the experience paved the way for the four of them to band together.

Riel told Tito Boy that their lives have changed so much ever since they signed as XOXO under Sparkle.

"Maybe siguro Tito Boy kami, lahat naman kami 'yung talunan dun sa singing contest na sinalihan namin but because of GMA Network binigyan nila kami ng opportunity to be in a girl group," she shared.

She added that they all thought their journey to being singers would end in "The Clash."

"Akala namin na doon na magtatapos 'yung journey namin as singers, but here we are six years after, andito pa rin kami," she added. "We're not there yet, we're not super sikat, we're getting there, pero we're working on it. Sobrang nabago."

XOXO released their self-titled debut single, "XOXO," in September 2020, which is about body positivity. The girls have said in the past that although they may not fit in the "ideal" beauty standards, they believe that they are still beautiful and sexy.

In June 2022, XOXO released their comeback single, "My Miracle," with the girls singing about hope, rising above challenges, and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

— CDC, GMA Integrated News