The Masked Singer (Australian TV series) season 3

The third season of The Masked Singer Australia was renewed in October 2020 and premiered on Monday, 13 September 2021. Osher Günsberg returned as the show's host. In the Grand Finale on 5 October 2021, Anastacia was revealed as the winner, Em Rusciano was the runner-up, and Axle Whitehead, was third.

Production

The costumes were designed and created by Australian Academy Award and BAFTA Award-Winning costume designer Tim Chappel, who is best known for his work on The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert with Lizzy Gardiner.
The third series was filmed with a virtual audience between 3 and 24 July 2021 and premiered on 13 September 2021.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions in Greater Sydney, the in-studio audience again consisted of socially-distanced production staff wearing costumes, like the previous season. Additionally, 100 Australian viewers were selected as a virtual audience. They streamed the live performances and voted for their favourite character's performance. The performer with the fewest votes was unmasked in each episode. For confidentiality, the virtual audience did not witness the elimination's result or the unmasking of the performers.

Panellists and host

Radio personality Jackie O, singer-songwriter Dannii Minogue and comedians Dave Hughes and Urzila Carlson returned to the judging panel from the previous season. Osher Günsberg returned as host.

Contestants

In the third season, there were twelve regular contestants who competed in the competition. Before the season began, Network Ten revealed that the cast included Hollywood A-listers, Logie Award winners, a Brit Award winner, humanitarian, chart-toppers, Grammy Award winner and award-winning superstars. On 17 June 2021, Network Ten announced the stage identities of the first six masks. The Mullet and Piñata were announced on 10 August 2021 in the first trailer. On 24 August 2021, the final four masks were announced in the second trailer.
For the first time on the Australian version of the series, a special guest mask performed as Rubble from Paw Patrol in a once-off appearance on Episode 6 which was revealed to be Kyle Sandilands.

Episodes

Episode 5 (21 September)

Group number: "Dynamite" by BTS

#	Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Mullet	"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones		SAFE
2	Dolly	"Make You Feel My Love" by Adele		SAFE
3	Pavlova	"Rise Up" by Andra Day	Mahalia Barnes	OUT
4	Vampire	"Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler		SAFE

Episode 6 (26 September)

Group number: "Head & Heart" by Joel Corry & MNEK
Special guest mask performance: "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" by Train performed by Kyle Sandilands as Rubble

#	Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Lightning	"Boom Clap" by Charli XCX		SAFE
2	Kebab	"Stay with Me" by Sam Smith		SAFE
3	Atlantis	"Ex's & Oh's" by Elle King	Macy Gray	OUT
4	Baby	"My Favorite Things" by Julie Andrews		SAFE

Episode 10 (4 October)

Group number: "Only Human" by The Jonas Brothers

#	Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Mullet	"Blame It on Me" by George Ezra		SAFE
2	Vampire	"Fancy" by Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX		SAFE
3	Dolly	"I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt		SAFE
4	Kebab	"Juice" by Lizzo	Jack Vidgen	OUT

Episode 11 (5 October)

Group number: "On a Night Like This" by Kylie Minogue

#	Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Mullet	"Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf	Axle Whitehead	THIRD
2	Dolly	"You've Got the Love" by Florence + The Machine	Em Rusciano	RUNNER-UP
3	Vampire	"Live and Let Die" by Wings	Anastacia	WINNER