After another tension-filled elimination last Saturday on GMA-7’s fast-rising superstar search, “Are You The Next Big Star?,” the competition is now down to the 16 remaining contenders whose exceptional star quality and outstanding vocal prowess each earned them a coveted spot in the show’s “Circle of 16.”

Equally talented and boosting with superstar potential, a medley of fresh and familiar faces makes up the top 16 finalists who received the highest number of combined votes from the jury and the judges – Danny Tan, Mon Faustino, Annie Quintos, Randy Santiago, and Pops Fernandez.

The chosen ones are Alex Castro, PJ Gonzales, Greggy Santos, Bobby Solomon, Anton Cruz, Jay Perillo, Justin Francis, Geoff Taylor, Frencheska Farr, Camille Cortez, Shane Tarun, Rachel Gabreza, Cara Quiapos, Zyrene Parsad, Christine Allado, and Alexa Ortega.

The “Circe of 16” will face 10 more weeks of tougher challenges, dramatic transformations, not to mention closer public scrutiny, until only six of them are left to battle it out in the grand finale.

Up for grabs for each of the winning contestants – 1 male and 1 female – are a GMA Exclusive Management Contract, a GMA Records Recording Contract, one million pesos in cash from SM Supermalls, and a condominium unit from Avida Land Corporation.

Beginning today, voting – details of which will be revealed in the next episodes – will officially be open to the public. To know more about your favorite contestants, catch the daily updates on “SiS” or log on to www.igma.tv/areyouthenextbigstar. Fans can also watch the Circle of 16 perform live in different SM malls across the nation, starting off with SM Valenzuela today, June 20.

More show-stopping performances, innovative twists, and big prizes await viewers in the biggest singing search on primetime. “Are You The Next Big Star?” airs every Saturday after “Pinoy Records” only on GMA-7.