The Masked Singer season 12 episode 11: Who went home tonight?

The 12th season of The Masked Singer reached its penultimate episode, the Semi-Finals: The Final Three, which released on December 11. After a fierce competition, Strawberry Shortcake was unmasked and sent home, leaving Wasp and Buffalo as the two remaining contestants vying for the trophy.

After the unmasking, it was revealed that Strawberry Shortcake was AJ Michalka, an actress and singer known for her work with the musical duo Aly & AJ. This highly anticipated episode determined which contestants would advance to the finale and who would be eliminated.

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The Masked Singer season 12 episode 11 elimination and highlights

Who was sent home tonight?

In this episode, the final three competitors—Strawberry Shortcake, Wasp, and Buffalo—delivered standout performances. Strawberry Shortcake sang Selena Gomez's Lose You to Love Me but lost the "Masked Royale" duet duel to Buffalo with Counting Stars by OneRepublic. She was eliminated and revealed as actress-singer AJ Michalka, surprising the panel, whose final guesses included Kelsea Ballerini, Sarah Hyland, and Joey King.

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Who is AJ Michalka?

AJ Michalka, revealed as Strawberry Shortcake on The Masked Singer Season 12, is an American actress, singer-songwriter, and one-half of the musical duo Aly & AJ. Born on April 10, 1991, in Torrance, California, she began her acting career with roles in General Hospital, Six Feet Under, and The Guardian. She starred with her sister in Disney Channel's Cow Belles (2006) and appeared in films like The Lovely Bones (2009), Secretariat (2010), and Super 8 (2011).

From 2013 to 2023, she played Lainey Lewis on ABC's The Goldbergs and its spinoff Schooled (2019–2020).

AJ Michalka and Aly Michalka ride in the 91st Hollywood Christmas Parade (Image via Getty)

Michalka has also worked in animated productions, voicing the character Catra in Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018–2020). Her other projects include the film Grace Unplugged (2013), where she performed original songs, and Weepah Way for Now (2015), which she produced alongside her sister and brother-in-law.

As a musician, Michalka has performed as part of Aly & AJ since the duo’s formation in 2004. They have released several albums, including hits such as “Potential Breakup Song.” The duo briefly rebranded as 78violet in 2009 before returning to their original name in 2015. Michalka is proficient in instruments such as piano, guitar, and electric guitar, contributing to the group’s musical versatility.

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Who are the remaining contestants in The Masked Singer?

The two finalists heading into The Masked Singer Season 12 finale are Wasp and Buffaloes:

1) Wasp

Wasp has consistently impressed both the panel and the audience. In this episode, Wasp sang Beautiful Things by Benson Boone, earning praise for delivering their best performance of the season. Wasp’s clue package included a friendship bracelet with the word “Nashville,” hinting at their connection with judge Robin Thicke.

2) Buffaloes

Earlier in The Masked Singer, it was revealed that Buffalo is performed not just by one personbut three. This trio has demonstrated exceptional harmonies and stage presence throughout the competition. Tonight, they performed Africa by Toto, described as one of the season’s standout performances. They presented Jenny McCarthy with a friendship bracelet with “Donnie”, alluding to a past connection.

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Tune in to the season 12 Semi-Finals of The Masked Singer, on December 12 at 8 PM ET on FOX to find out which contestants will make it to the finale!