During the second semi-final of Mask, television host and jury member Regina Todorenko attempted to leverage singer Philip Kirkorov as a prop for a live dance moment. The episode featured an invited guest appearing in a Cactus disguise who stepped onto the stage with the audience watching intently. In the midst of a question segment, Todorenko raised a bold claim, suggesting that her colleague Ida Galich, who is known as a blogger, might be concealing her identity beneath the mask. The other judges quickly echoed this speculation, turning the moment into a lively, speculative exchange that energized the studio.
After the performance, Todorenko pressed the masked contestant with several key questions, seeking to uncover details about the character’s backstory. She asked whether the masked performer carried a personal symbol or a loving connection that could be likened to a “little cactus,” and whether the script for the participant’s own project had been written by the person behind the disguise. The questions drew curious responses and kept the audience engaged as the show moved forward to reveal the truth behind the costume.
In response to the inquiries, Todorenko received affirmative answers on both counts. She noted that the Cactus had danced with considerable energy on the stage apparatus and expressed admiration for the performer’s ability. The host even remarked that she would welcome a chance to learn a few moves from the artist, signaling a moment of camaraderie and mutual respect on set. The conversation took a playful turn when Todorenko invited Kirkorov to stand fully and demonstrate his own height, intending to mirror the height-enhanced drive of the pylon dance the contestant had just performed. Kirkorov agreed to participate, but revealed that his father Bedros was seated among the audience, which caused him to reconsider the arrangement and adjust the moment to keep the focus on the performance rather than the spectacle.
Earlier in the season, the show had already seen a strong moment when the performer IVAN, dressed in a caterpillar costume, moved the competition toward the brink of the finale. Among the judging panel, Valeria and Alexei Vorobyov were the only members who correctly hypothesized that IVAN was concealing his identity behind the mask, a revelation that highlighted the dynamics of deduction and speculation that drive the program’s appeal. The night’s events underscored the blend of theatrical rhythm and mystery that makes Mask a captivating showcase for vocal artistry, stagecraft, and the playful interplay between contestants and judges. The episode continued to unfold with tension, humor, and a sense of shared discovery that resonates with audiences across Canada and the United States, where viewers follow the twists of each masked performer’s journey and the reactions of the panelists to every reveal.