How Toniyuh became an internet sensation impersonating Toni Gonzaga, other celebs’ voices
Content creator Toniyuh’s rise from being a theater performer to an internet sensation began with a simple video posted from home.
In one of her viral TikTok clips, Toniyuh sings along to the “Ice Cream Yummy” song, imitating the voices of celebrities Toni Gonzaga, Kathryn Bernardo, former Vice President Leni Robredo, controversial politician Alice Guo, and internet personality Kween Yasmin interchangeably.
“When I came out with that video, I shot it straight on my phone,” shared Toniyuh to the press. The said clip went viral on TikTok, racking up over 15.2 million views and 1.5 million likes.
Toniyuh started her online content creation journey by first imitating Gonzaga, which explains her screen name. However, after netizens challenged her to do more impersonations, she showed more of her range by beginning to do imitations of the other aforementioned celebrities.
“In my experience, I have always been following the celebrities that I loved, watching their movies, series, guestings, etc.,” Toniyuh explained about the inspirations behind her impersonations. “For me, it’s a good factor as a fan and having this platform to entertain people using my talent as a celebrity voice impersonator.”
Originally a theater actress, Toniyuh honed her craft through roles in productions such as the Department of Trade and Industry’s “Tanghalang Pamamimili ” (2018) and “Bakit Isa Lang ang Bituin sa Langit” (2019). She also earned recognition as a Mandudula at Artista ng Bayan by the Municipality of Binangonan.
Her newfound fame extended to national television. Toniyuh made her debut on GTV’s “Dapat Alam Mo!,” performing a Toni Gonzaga impression during the Ka-Voice segment. She has since appeared on shows like “Eat Bulaga,” “24 Oras,” “Boobay & Tekla Show” and “Frontline Pilipinas,” showcasing her versatility through both comedic bits and featured segments.
Toniyuh is now slated to appear in the upcoming digital BL series “Got My Eyes on You” on Puregold Channel.
As of writing, Toniyuh has already solidified her digital presence. Her TikTok account, @iamtoniyuh, now boasts over 300,500 followers, with 18.5 million likes across all of her videos thus far.
The content creator expressed that she is grateful for the positive feedback she gets from supporters.
“I believe that the enthusiasm and creativity of every individual should be recognized. Most of my followers said that I’m their ‘stress reliever,’ and I’m happy for the positive feedback and support from them on top of being in love with the craft,” she stated.
Toniyuh also aims to use her platform to support causes close to her heart, like the LGBTQIA+ and elder communities, saying that it is her way of “using her voice and platform to do better and inspire others.”
On top of brand endorsements, Toniyuh has collaborated with various celebrities including Kim Atienza, Susan Enriquez, Yassi Pressman, KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad, among others. /ra
