MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American Malaya Watson landed in the bottom 3 with Kristen O’Connor and MK Nobilette during the American Idol results show on February 27 (February 28 in Manila), following the top 13 singers’ performances.

However, she was saved from elimination as Kristen O’ Connor was voted off the top 13.

Just a day prior, in the first of the solo performance rounds leading up to the season finale, Watson sang Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby,” drawing mixed reactions from judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr. The theme of the week was “This is Me.”

“It wasn’t your best vocal performance, we know you can blow, at the end it went off the rails. But for me this was just one performance, you’re a contender baby,” said Lopez.

Connick Jr. noted that she defintely showed promise, but that nerves got in the way. “You seemed a little nervous to me tonight, but that’s going to go away,” Connick Jr. observed.

“This show is about learning and growing.  Your energy is so contagious on stage, now you just gotta learn how to put it into your songs,” Urban advised.

O’Connor is the first finalist to leave the show, leaving 12 contestants to battle it out as they gear up for the “Home” theme next week. 

As the competition goes on, consistency will be critical for Watson. Judges loved her Detroit audition, and she did wow the judges during Hollywood week, though there were a few low points, including an instance when she was made to start over after judges noted that she sounded off-key. 

Watson is the lone Fil-Am in the top 13. Fellow Fil-Am contestant Marrialle Sellars made it into the top 15, but did not move forward in the competition. – Rappler.com