Biography
Zephanie Odhene Liwag Dimaranan, also known by her stage name "Zephanie" is a Filipino singer under Cornerstone Entertainment and Sparkle: GMA Artist Center hailed as This Generation's Pop Princess. She was a former member of the Project girl group New Gen Divas along with Janine Berdin, Elha Nympha and Sheena Belarmino. She left the group after taking part in the Now United Bootcamp in September 2021, along with her transfer to GMA Network in 2022. In August 2019, following her win in Idol Philippines, Zephanie was launched as a new regular performer of ASAP Natin 'To and eventually, she became part of a project girl group titled "J.E.Z", together with Janine Berdin and Elha Nympha.
On September 3, 2019, Zephanie's rendition of Ebe Dancel's "Bawat Daan" in the TV series "The Killer Bride", was heard on the teaser trailer for the September 4 episode. The song was released on September 27 in all digital music platforms along with a duet version with Ebe Dancel.
On September 13, 2019, Zephanie, along with the rest of the Idol Philippines Top 5, were a guest in Moira Dela Torre's second major solo concert, Braver.
On November 16 & 17, Zephanie joined former Westlife member Brian McFadden on his First Major Solo Concert in the Philippines called "Romantic Intimate Concert" at Waterfront Cebu and New Frontier Theater.
On November 28, 2019, Zephanie held her first major solo concert at the New Frontier Theater, titled Zephanie at the New Frontier with Sarah Geronimo, Elha Nympha, Idol Philippines Top 4 - (Lance Busa, Lucas Garcia, Dan Ombao and Miguel Odron), Erik Santos and Regine Velasquez (Moira Dela Torre and Janine Berdin were originally supposed to be part of the concert's special guests, but pulled out due to health issues.) as her special guests. During the concert, "Pangako Ko", was released on YouTube as a digital single and it was later released on January 24, 2020 to streaming sites.
On February 7, 2020, she released her first movie theme song "Simpleng Tao" originally sung by Gloc-9 for the movie "James and Pat and Dave". She released another single under Star Music "Sabihin Mo Na Lang Kasi" on July 24, 2020.
In March 2020, she was launched as one of the faces of Palmolive Naturals Shampoo along with Maine Mendoza.
On July 29, 2020, Zephanie debuted as the host together with Kyle Echarri as they launched their online music variety show entitled "CSTV Presents: Artist Lab", appearing on Cornerstone Entertainment's Facebook Page with simultaneous streaming on their Official Facebook pages. The show was originally set to last for 4 consecutive weeks every Wednesday. However, the online show was suspended from August 4, 2020, after Metro Manila was placed under a modified Enhanced Community Quarantine. The show returned on October 16, 2020, with a new timeslot every Fridays instead of Wednesdays. The resumed season lasted until November 6, 2020.
In October 2020, as ABS-CBN was shut down in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zephanie became a part of "Sunday Noontime Live!", She was part of the segment entitled "Ultimate Vocal Showdown" with Fana, Sassa Dagdag, Sam Mangubat and Niel Murillo of BoybandPH. The show only lasted for three months before it was cancelled on January 17, 2021, being replaced by a simulcast of ASAP Natin 'To on the said network's noontime timeslot.
She was launched as one of the 12 interpreters of Himig Handog 11th Edition with a song entitled "Tinadhana Sa'Yo", composed by SJ Gandia from the United States. The song was released on November 13, 2020, while its associated music video were released on January 2, 2021.
On October 26, 2020, she released a new single titled "Pasensya Na", an exclusive released under Cornerstone Music.
On November 6, 2020, Zephanie held a virtual concert titled Zuperstar on Kumu, she was the first streamer that held a concert on the said online platform. She was also awarded as the Kumu Superstar Streamer.
2021: Return to ASAP, Now United Bootcamp
In February 2021, Zephanie returned to ABS-CBN following a 3-month stint under Brightlight Productions by appearing on It's Showtime's Hide N' Sing segment.
On March 7, 2021, Zephanie made her comeback on ASAP after one year of not appearing on the said show, performing her Himig 11th Edition entry "Tinadhana Sa'yo". She would later rejoin the New Gen Divas after it was rebranded with Sheena Belarmino becoming part of the group. The revived group would officially debut on April 25, 2021, with Zephanie representing the color green in the said group. However, Zephanie's stint with the group was short-lived and it ended on August 8, 2021.
In 2021, she interpreted a cover of Yeng Constantino's song titled "Lapit" as the themesong for the TV series Niña Niño, produced by Spring Films and Cornerstone Studios. The song would later be included in her first album.
During the Himig 11th Edition Grand Finals, which was held on March 21, 2021, "Tinadhana Sa'Yo" won the MOR's Choice Award and TFC's Global Choice Award.
In August 2021, Dreamscape Entertainment announced the Official Soundtrack of the series "Marry Me, Marry You" which includes Zephanie's rendition of "One Day" originally sung by Angeline Quinto and it was digitally released on August 27, 2021. The said series aired its first episode on September 13.
On August 24, 2021, she was featured in another commercial of Palmolive Naturals Shampoo along with Julia Barretto and Angelina Cruz.
On August 31, 2021, it was revealed that Zephanie was one of the 12 global talents who won the Camp Now United competition, a competition to send 12 young talents from around the world to attend a bootcamp with Now United in Abu Dhabi from September 15-30, 2021. She, along with the other 10 bootcampers, underwent vocal training with Joseph Clarke and choreography training with Kyle Hanagami. Following the 2-week stint in the bootcamp, she returned to the Philippines on September 30, 2021.
During the bootcamp, the Bootcampers released two songs, "Good Days", an original song made for the Bootcampers and a special version of "Come Together", a collaboration between Now United and the 12 bootcampers.
In October 2021, during the 12th PMPC Star Awards for Music, Zephanie won the New Female Recording Artist of the Year for her first single "Pangarap Kong Pangarap Mo".
On November 8, 2021, she was launched as one of the Gen C artists of Cornerstone Entertainment and renewed her contract with the said management.
In November 2021, Zephanie was featured in another Palmolive commercial along with Julia Montes, and would release a new commercial jingle titled "BNCY".
In December 2021, she released a Christmas Song entitled "A Merry Merry Cheer", a collaboration with Singaporean music artist and producer, Zadon.
Also in the same month, she made a partial return to free TV by making a guest appearance on Atin Ang Paskong Ito, Kapatid!: The 2021 TV5 Christmas Celebration, in which, she performed "Lapit", the themesong of the network's TV series, Niña Niño.
In the first week of the year 2022, Zephanie finally released her self-titled debut album, which showcases her previously released singles and original songs with a carrier single "Magpakita Ka Na" composed by Miguel Mendoza III, the composer of the hit song Isa Pang Araw which she also has a rendition included on her album. It's music video was released on February 22.
On March 31, 2022, after two and a half years in ABS-CBN and 8 months of not appearing in ASAP, Zephanie left the network and transferred to GMA Network and signed a contract with their talent agency Sparkle while remaining co-managed by Cornerstone Entertainment. She made her debut on All-Out Sundays on April 3, 2022.
