In the ninth episode of the fourth season of NTV’s Mask, the panel made a surprising move by declassifying the participant in the Ermine disguise. The singer behind the mask was Diana Ankudinova, a performer whose vocal tone and stage presence have drawn widespread attention across the show’s audience.
Also advancing alongside Ankudinova were two other acts, Poodle and Hamster. The live vote tipped in favor of the hamster, granting it safety for another round. The jury appeared unified in their assessment, agreeing that Ankudinova, indeed, performed with the Ermine mask on. One participant voiced a nuanced reaction, saying, “I won’t say I’m offended. I’m upset. Because I really love Ermine. But I’m grateful for the progress I’ve made in this project.”
Industry voices weighed in on Ankudinova’s standout moment, with Philip Kirkorov insisting that recognizing her distinctive timbre would be entirely appropriate. He also commented that the Ermine costume remains the most striking in the season, while Valeria praised Ankudinova’s Mask performances as exceptionally beautiful and almost otherworldly in their execution.
Diana Ankudinova’s track record includes winning the second season of her own project and clinching the Super Season Grand Prix. She later found victory on another program, Showmaskgoon, expanding her presence in the masked-artist sphere.
Turning to the eighth episode of the same season, the show spotlighted a participant donning a Skunk costume who was declassified. The performer behind that mask was Shena, who is identified as Valeria’s daughter in the broadcast narrative.