MANILA, Philippines -- Jessica Sanchez made her debut appearance in the hit US TV musical "Glee" as a character with a "voice than can fill an arena."
Jessica Sanchez as Frida Romero in "Glee." Photo release from the show's official website
The Filipino-American singer, who finished runner-up in last year's season of "American Idol," made a brief appearance in the first scenes of the "Lights Out" episode of "Glee" aired Friday (Manila time).
The 17-year-old Sanchez portrays Frida Romero, a member of Hoosierdaddies, one of the rivals of the William McKinley High School's New Directions at the show choir regionals competition.
In the episode, New Directions coach Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) is seen spying on Frida, as she sings parts of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
"Guys, we got a problem," Will tells his students. "Her name is Frida Romero. With Regionals only a few weeks away, I went to scout out the competition."
"Hoosierdaddies have a secret weapon. She's a tiny little sophomore -- never competed before -- but her voice could fill an arena, it's big," he says.
Sanchez's brief appearance in "Lights Out" is seen as an introduction to her character, who will reportedly be featured in an upcoming episode of "Glee" with a full performance.
The hit TV musical's creator Ryan Murphy, in an earlier interview with local publication Manila Bulletin, said he would have wanted Sanchez to be in every episode of "Glee" this year, only that it was not possible because of the singer’s prior commitments.
