Smart Launchpad names three new video creators to watch out for

Now is an amazing time to be an artist. Before, it was a monumental struggle to find people who will appreciate our respective forms of art. We had to beg the "gatekeepers" of the industry we want to get into to give us a chance to showcase what we can do. But now there are platforms like YouTube to directly connect us to a hungry audience - if we can do something well and work hard to create something we can be proud of, we're sure to find a group who will support us throughout our journey.

I'm also happy to know that Smart initiated a nationwide talent incubator to find the next big YouTube star. Smart Launchpad is a talent search and content creation program that encourages the youth to showcase what they do best - whether it's singing or dancing, doing make-up tutorials, sharing travel tips or making people laugh. To demonstrate its fast and efficient Internet, Smart took its Launchpad Upload Stations to different malls and schools all over the country. At the stations, content creators could make their entries on the spot and upload them on YouTube.

Finally, after a trimming down 1,537 entries to just 100 finalists from all over the Philippines, Smart found three amazing talents to go to Los Angeles to collaborate with international star and YouTube creator Filharmonic. A tough final workshop revealed MJ Labenia, Lesha Litonjua and Tops Unay as the lucky talented winners to go to LA and take home a Samsung prize pack that contains Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung Gear 360, and Samsung VR.

What's nice about the competition is that it wasn't a negative environment that forced participants to fight against each other. At the three-day camp in First Pacific Leadership Academy, Antipolo City, everybody got to take home useful knowledge from YouTube creators about how they can further hone their craft, promote their channels, and monetize their passion. Celebrity Nicole Andersson, make-up guru Michelle Dy for vlogging, choreographer Paulo Infante for dance, and recording artist Moira dela Torre for singing each had their own breakout session where they discussed their "specialty" so to speak, and encouraged the participants to explore their potential.

Michelle Dy during her makeup vlogging breakout session

Raiza Contawi, one of our fave rising YouTube beauty guru, was one of the finalists! Here she is doing her last entry.

Here's to more Smart Launchpad events in the future! I can't wait to see MJ, Lesha, and Tops bloom in LA, and become YouTube starts in their own right. <3 They've all inspired me to work on my YouTube channel ASAP, so I'm editing my next video as soon as I publish this. Have a great weekend y'all! 

This story is brought to you by Smart.