Looking back at The Masked Singer season 11 finale: What happened and who won? 

The Masked Singer franchise celebrated two major victories in 2024. While Boys II Men members Shawn Stockman, Nathan Morris and Wanyá Morris just won season 12 as Buffalo, the season 11 finale in May delivered its own memorable champion. The May 22 finale crowned Vanessa Hudgens as the winner, performing under the Goldfish costume.

In The Masked Singer season 11 finale, the High School Musical star outperformed Scott Porter, who competed as Gumball in the final round. The competition started with 16 contestants in March 2024, leading to a face-off between these two performers.

Judges Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Rita Ora successfully identified Hudgens, while Robin Thicke guessed Hilary Duff and Ken Jeong suggested Nicole Scherzinger.

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Goldfish defeated Gumball in The Masked Singer season 11 finale

Goldfish’s first performance in The Masked Singer season 11 finale featured Heart of Glass by Blondie, showcasing her ability to handle complex vocal patterns.

She followed this with Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John. Her costume consisted of six separate components, combining orange scaling patterns with flowing white fabric elements. Star’s clue package read:

“I come from a working-class family that has no connection to Hollywood whatsoever, so there’s no reason I should’ve made it. But I’m proof that with enough love, hard work and dedication, you can truly do anything.”

Gumball brought his own musical style to the stage with Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith as his opening number. His second song choice, Renegade by Styx, paid tribute to his family background.

During his pre-performance package, Porter shared his two-decade television career journey and his experiences in the entertainment industry.

McCarthy Wahlberg and Thicke predicted Derek Hough behind the mask, while Jeong suggested Taran Killam, and Ora thought it might be Joseph Gordon Levitt.

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Unmasking moment

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The Masked Singer season 11 finale's climactic reveal began with Nick Cannon sharing the final clue about the Bandslam connection. Porter emerged first from the Gumball costume after receiving the runner-up position.

The Ginny & Georgia actor acknowledged his musical background during the reveal, explaining his decision to join the competition.

Hudgens stepped out of the Goldfish costume moments later as the season winner, marking her return to musical performance after focusing on acting projects.

Following her The Masked Singer season 11 win, Hudgens shared her thoughts with Fox News Digital about the unique experience. She stated:

“It is so much more fulfilling when you’re acknowledged for purely your talent than celebrity. Because I feel like celebrity is a big thing these days, especially with social media. But talent should come first because it’s so much more fulfilling."

Star expressed The Golden Mask Trophy holds special significance among her awards, as she competed without the weight of her established name. Her exact words were,

“Personally, it’s really high up there because it had nothing to do with ‘Vanessa Hudgens’ the celebrity [and] what comes with a name. It had everything to do with what I personally bring to the table on the inside with my soul and my talent. So being awarded for literally what’s on the inside, it’s the most beautiful thing."

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Season journey

The path to the season 11 finale included 14 elimination rounds spanning two months. Goldfish maintained a strong position throughout the competition, avoiding the bottom two ranking in any episode.

Gumball faced elimination risks twice during the season but advanced through strong comeback performances. The semi-final round saw Thelma Houston, performing as Clock, leaving the competition after a tight performance round.

The season showcased various musical genres, with both finalists demonstrating versatility in their song selections.

The Goldfish costume required extensive preparation time due to its multiple components and complex design details. Fox confirmed the continuation of the series with season 12 during the broadcast. Season 12 concluded with Boyz II Men winning as the Buffalo trio against Wasp in the finale.

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The Masked Singer season 13 is announced as well. Series is set to come back on February 12, 2025.