Star Search Is Back - Here's Your First Look At The Top 24 Contestants

Star Search is back after a nine-year hiatus, and it's back with a bang. Over 1,200 hopefuls auditioned, but only 24 have made it to the semi-finals.

These 12 men and 12 ladies will spend the next three months under the watchful eye of their celeb mentors, Chen Hanwei, Christopher Lee and Huang Biren, and hone their craft before the semi-finals, which will air live on Oct 6.

Among the finalists are is a former Miss Chinese Toronto contestant, a primary school teacher from Macau who was scouted by Vivian Lai while she was on holiday in Singapore (true story), and a theatre actor hoping to make his transition to the small screen.