Stars Academy season 2

Stars Academy is a Hong Kong singing competition television series to find young singing talents. The second season, also known as Stars Academy 2, premiered on 11 June 2022 and concluded on 2 October 2022, spanning 15 episodes. The competition followed a similar structure to the previous season, with individual and group performances and eliminations based on scores. Eric Kwok and Hanjin Tan served as coaching supervisors, alongside a team of coaches consisting of Vincy Chan, JW, Eman Lam, Phil Lam, Gin Lee, and Alan Po. Jasmine Yam was announced as the winner on 2 October 2022. Throughout the competition, Yam gained notable popularity, securing the top position on the audience popularity list for nine weeks. A post-competition live concert titled Prom Night was held on 1 November 2022 featured performances by most contestants, with a special appearance by Eric Kwok.

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Production

In July 2021, TVB initiated the audition process for the second season. Out of 1,000 applicants from both local and overseas, 23 contestants were selected, including 17 individuals and a 6-membered girl group. The members of the girl group, XiX, was initially introduced to the public through the youth talent singing show Stars Academy Juniors. Investment of approximately 3,000 hours of training, including singing, dancing, nutrition, and make-up classes, was made, with a cost estimated at HKD $2 million per contestant. From April to June 2022, promotional activities for the show commenced, introducing the season's theme, "Surpass Myself". A music video and theme song with the same title were released. Its writing team included several contestants from the previous season–Aska Cheung, Archie Sin, Kaitlyn Lam, and Rock Ho–carrying the message of "passing the fire to the next generation".
The show retained Johnny Yim as the music director, and Sunny Wong served as the dance director. The set design was inspired by the Hong Kong Coliseum, featuring a 4-sided stage with motorised moving platforms and 5D hologram technology. The season premiered on 11 June, with the finale taking place on 2 October 2022. In addition to the Hong Kong region, TVB extended auditions and held smaller-scale singing competition shows in Malaysia and Australia. The winners from these shows eventually competed in Hong Kong against the winners from the domestic region in a friendly match. The match was featured in a two-special-episode spinoff programme titled Stars Academy 2 Kick-off Match, which concluded the Stars Academy 2 franchise in its entirety with its last airing date on 12 November 2022. The winner, Jasmine Yam, performed a live rendition of her tailor-made song "Breath Away", written by the season's coaching supervisors, Eric Kwok and Hanjin Tan, during this programme.

Format and competition overview

The second season of the competition maintained the same basic structure as the previous one, but with some modifications. Like before, the competition consisted of multiple rounds, and apart from the live finale, the majority of the show was pre-recorded. Each round was typically broadcast within one, two, or three episodes. A panel of 25 professional music judges was also assembled for each round. Eric Kwok and Hanjin Tan, previously judges in the first season, were invited to become coaching supervisors for the second season.
The season began with Episode 1, introducing the contestants to the audience. In Episode 2, the contestants performed in groups of three or four, with the coaches selecting and forming their individual teams. For any contestants who faced the possibility of elimination after not being chosen, a second chance was given to showcase their talent individually. In Episodes 3–5, the contestants were divided into three groups of six. Each coach sent one of their contestants to compete in each group. Following the performances, three contestants who received the lowest score in each group were eliminated.
The remaining fifteen contestants were divided into two teams and competed against each other in the subsequent three rounds. Under the leadership of Eric Kwok, the groups formed by Vincy Chan, Phil Lam, and Gin Lee composed the Red team. Hanjin Tan led the groups consisting of JW, Eman Lam, and Alan Po, forming the Blue team. Competing for a total cumulative score, the coaches of the losing team would disqualify one or two contestants according to the guidelines established for each round. In Episodes 6–8, the teams engaged in individual head-to-head battles. In Episodes 9–10, a concert-mode battle format was adopted, where both teams presented five sets of performances resembling those seen at a typical concert, including opening acts and encores. In Episodes 11–12, each contestant performed in pairs, either with a coach or another contestant from the same or opposite team.
Episodes 13–14 marked the return to individual competition for the top ten contestants, as they competed one-on-one for placement in the top five. The season finale, held on 2 October 2022 in Episode 15, utilized a scoring system that weighed both the judges' scores and audience votes equally. After the top five finalists performed, Jasmine Yam and Janees Wong emerged as the top two and faced off in a final round. Jasmine Yam ultimately claimed the winning title, earning a prize of HKD $100,000. Janees Wong placed as runner-up, with a prize of HKD $50,000, while Sabrina Chiu became the second runner up and received a prize of HKD $30,000.

Contestants

Jasmine Yam Hoi-ching gained attention for her emotional singing ability, shown in renditions including Leo Ku's "This Enjoyable Night" and Jacky Cheung's "So Close Yet So Far". Although not viewed as the best technical contestant, Yam was noted for having "an exceptional voice timbre and temperament" and considered promising for her age.
Janees Wong Lok-yin received praise for her technically skilled performance of Vincy Chan's "Gutters".
Sabrina Chiu Chi-lok was noted for her powerful vocals, particularly in her performance of JC's "Be Apart".
XiX earned the "Outstanding Performance" Award for placing in top five.
*Vici Chong Yan-yuet
*Aster Lau Chi-kwan
*Crystal Leung Sin-chi
*Charlotte Mow Wan-hei
*Kiele Tang Xiao-yin
*Caitlin Yang Bing-yi
Pamela Chiu Siu-ting earned the "Outstanding Performance" Award for placing in top five.
Zayden Pang Ka-yin
Angel Lau Wing-tung received the "Contestant with the Most Progress" Award along with Sean Wen.
Maggie Chiu Chung-yee
Duncan How Chun-hei
Sean Wen Cho-hong received the "Contestant with the Most Progress" Award along with Angel Lau.
Jason Chan Chun-hin
Vivian Kong Ting-wai
Timothy Chan Ho-ting
Nicole Siu Ching-him
Christopher Kim Wing-hang
Mandy Suen Yee-man
Desta Lee Yan-tung
'''Crystal Leung Tsz-ching'''

Episode performances

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Episode 1: Non-competition performances

Order	Contestant	Song
1	Group	"Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
2	Vivian Kong	"The Last Blossom" by Faye Wong
3	Jason Chan	"I Love You" by David Tao
4	Angel Lau	"Joyful" by Joey Yung
5	XiX	"Hard Life" by Justin Lo
6	Pamela Chiu	"I'm Really Hurt" by Jacky Cheung
7	Timothy Chan	"Love Too Late" by Leo Ku
8	Sabrina Chiu	"Traitor" by Olivia Rodrigo
9	Sean Wen	"Perfect" by Ed Sheeran
10	Janees Wong	"The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston
11	Zayden Pang	"Who Is That" by William So
12	Maggie Chiu	"Breathing Is Hazardous" by Karen Mok
13	Duncan How	"Wanderer" by Eason Chan
14	Christopher Kim	"Golden Era" by Eason Chan
15	Jasmine Yam	"One Plus One" by AGA & Gin Lee
16	Crystal Leung	"Born Second Grade" by Jace Chan
17	Desta Lee	"Elegant and Vulgar" by Tang Siu Hau
18	Mandy Suen	"Appointment" by Faye Wong
19	Nicole Siu	"Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland
20	Group	"My Happy Time" by Eason Chan

Episodes 6–8: First team battles

Order	Contestant	Song	Score
1	Vivian Kong	"Crescent Bay" by F.I.R.	9
1	Pamela Chiu	"Soul Recognition" by Hins Cheung	16
2	Jasmine Yam	"3 A.M." by AGA	9
2	Angel Lau	"Let It Be Gone With the Wind" by Kenny Bee	16
3	Duncan How	"Trust Yourself" by Alex To & Sally Yeh	5
3	XiX	"Superpower" by G.E.M.	20
4	Maggie Chiu	"Hard To Love" by Eason Chan	17
4	Jason Chan	"Red Scarf" by William Wei	8
5	Sabrina Chiu	"Hostage" by A-Mei	8
5	Timothy Chan	"Rubbish" by Candy Lo	17
6	Nicole Siu	"Encountered" by Samantha Lam	4
6	Sean Wen	"Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice	21
7	Christopher Kim	"Toxic" by Britney Spears	7
7	XiX	"If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys	18
8	Janees Wong	"Lady Marmalade" by Labelle	9
8	Zayden Pang	"Always Stay Young" by Hins Cheung	16

Episodes 9–10: Second team battles (concert-mode)

Order	Contestant	Song	Score
Opening	Jason Chan, Sabrina Chiu, Zayden Pang, Sean Wen, XiX	"Why Do We Dream" by Sam Hui "Uptown Funk" by Bruno Mars	15
Opening	Maggie Chiu, Pamela Chiu, Angel Lau, Janees Wong	"Exaggerated" by Eason Chan	10
Song of the Year	Janees Wong	"Words of Love Still Unspoken" by Leon Lai	9
Song of the Year	Jasmine Yam	"This Enjoyable Night" by Leo Ku	16
Power Medley	Jason Chan, Vivian Kong, Sean Wen, XiX, Jasmine Yam	"In the Lasers" by Roman Tam "Dynamite" by BTS "Flow Not Fly" by Faye Wong	16
Power Medley	Timothy Chan, Duncan How, Angel Lau, Nicole Siu	"Stop Fooling Around" by Leslie Cheung "Bad Girl" by Anita Mui "Trouble Maker" by Trouble Maker	9
Duet with a Guest Star	Maggie Chiu, Kaitlyn Lam	"Black Tangerine" by David Tao	16
Duet with a Guest Star	Sabrina Chiu, Yumi Chung	"Dancing Diva" by Jolin Tsai	9
Encore	All Red Team contestants	"We Will Rock You" "We Are the Champions" by Queen	8
Encore	All Blue Team contestants	"A Million Dreams" by Ziv Zaifman, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams "Youth Anthem" by Alfred Hui	17

Episodes 11–12: Third team battles

Order	Contestant with a coach or another contestant	Song	Score
1	Sean Wen, Vincy Chan	"Love Is Like A Tide" by Jeff Chang	7
1	Angel Lau, Alan Po	"Network Security Hazard" by Serrini	18
2	Maggie Chiu, Eman Lam	"To Forget Him" by Teresa Teng	12
2	Sabrina Chiu, Gin Lee	"First Tear Last Salute" by Joyce Cheng	13
3	Jason Chan, Vivian Kong	"Caution Wet Floor" by MC Cheung	4
3	Janees Wong, Pamela Chiu	"Still" by Sandy Lam	21
4	Duncan How, JW	"You're the Most Precious" by Jacky Cheung, Francesca Kao	9
4	Zayden Pang, Phil Lam	"Andersen’s Fault" by Phil Lam	16
5	Jasmine Yam	"Fond of You" "Lover" by Beyond	14
5	Pamela Chiu	"Fond of You" "Lover" by Beyond	11
6	Janees Wong, Hanjin Tan	"Close Eye Attentively" by Ronald Cheng	18
6	XiX, Eric Kwok	"Heavy Taste" by Eason Chan	7

Episodes 13–14: Top Five placement

Order	Contestant	Song	Score	Result
1	Sean Wen	"Can't Stop the Feeling!" by Justin Timberlake	5	Eliminated
1	Jasmine Yam	"So Close Yet So Far" by Jacky Cheung	20	Advanced
2	Duncan How	"Love You" by Andy Hui	0	Eliminated
2	Sabrina Chiu	"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele	25	Advanced
3	Angel Lau	"Legend of a Hungry Wolf" by Jacky Cheung	6	Eliminated
3	XiX	"Nobody" by Wonder Girls	19	Advanced
4	Maggie Chiu	"Schizophrenia" by Julia Wu	6	Eliminated
4	Pamela Chiu	"Lightbulb" by Stephy Tang	19	Advanced
5	Zayden Pang	"Aspirin" by Eason Chan	2	Eliminated
5	Janees Wong	"Gutters" by Vincy Chan	23	Advanced

Elimination chart

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Reception and ratings

Besides the final audience vote, which contributed directly to the finale score, the show also kept track of viewers' favorites through a weekly online popularity list. Throughout the season, Jasmine Yam dominated the list, securing the top spot for nine consecutive weeks and solidifying her status as one of the most popular contestants. Among the most viewed on YouTube, Sabrina Chiu's performances took the lead, with Jasmine Yam closely following in second place. Notably, Yam's rendition of Sandy Lam's "Crazy", performed during the finale, stood out as the only performance to trend at the number one spot on YouTube's local Hot Trending list. The finale reached its peak viewership with 1.16 million viewers.

Episode	Airing date	Viewership rating
1	11 June 2022	12.1 points
2	18 June 2022	11.1 points
3	25 June 2022	12.5 points
4	2 July 2022	13.8 points
5	9 July 2022	12.7 points
6	23 July 2022	11.6 points
13	17 September 2022	16.4 points
14	24 September 2022	16 points
Finale	2 October 2022	17.9 points

Post-competition

Prom Night was a live concert showcasing all the contestants, with the exception of Maggie Chiu and Nicole Siu, who were absent due to their personal reasons. The event took place on 1 November 2022, at MacPherson Stadium. The setlist primarily consisted of songs previously performed by the contestants during the singing competition. As a special addition, Eric Kwok made a guest appearance as a performer.
In May 2023, Aster Lau left the girl group XiX to pursue a solo career under All About Music. The remaining five members of XiX signed a record deal with Universal Music Hong Kong and made their official debut in September 2023. In May 2025, Janees Wong released her first single "Work of Art" under All About Music.

Releases

Group – "Surpass Myself" – Stars Academy 2 theme song
Group – "Hat Trick" – featuring the first season contestants
Group – "Stars of Joy"

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
2022	AEG Entertainment Popularity	Best Variety Programme	Stars Academy 2	Won
2022	TVB Anniversary Awards	Best Variety Programme	Stars Academy 2	Nomitated
2022	TVB Anniversary Awards	Best TV Themesong	"Surpass Myself"	Nomitated