On the night of August 26, 2026, a nationwide power outage swept across Belize, casting entire communities into sudden darkness. But for hundreds of loyal KTV The Remix fans gathered at Belize City’s iconic Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, the unexpected blackout was far from enough to dim the excitement of the talent competition’s season eight finale. Packed shoulder to shoulder inside the venue, the crowd kept the energy high as the final three contestants waited to hear who would walk away with the grand title and $10,000 top prize.
After weeks of grueling auditions, weekly live performances, and public voting that had whittled an initial field of hundreds down to just 12, and eventually three finalists – country artist Trevet Campos, soulful performer Tiana Sterling, and missionary Judson Baker – host Williams Neal finally opened the envelope to announce the winner. “Finishing in first place which means the grand champion of KTV The Remix Season Eight is Trevet Campos,” he declared to raucous cheers from Campos’ supporters.
For Campos, a Belizean country artist with a background in cattle ranching, the victory almost never happened. A last-minute accident on the day of his initial audition nearly forced him to miss the cut. Speaking after his win, Campos recalled the chaotic morning that almost derailed his competition journey: “The day I’m late for my picture. I da like, ‘Man, I hope they people ya noh dash me out of this competition,’ you know? But, you know, I had a accident and you know I called and made arrangements to but ah de ya now.”
Despite the early setback, organizers made an exception for Campos, and he went on to win over both judges and voters week after week to earn his spot in the finale. The rising star credited his family – particularly his mother, who he affectionately calls his “momager” – for pushing him to join the competition. “They’re everything. If it wasn’t because of my mom, my family, my aunt and you know my dad, and you know, my sponsors. It never mi wa be possible. And especially my mom, you know, she’s the one that pushed me,” he said, adding that he still feels overwhelmed by the victory. “It’s a overwhelming feeling. I don’t know how to feel right now.”
Campos plans to put his $10,000 prize to work first by expanding his cattle operation, before investing further in his music career. “Well I gwen buy some cow. Then after that I’ll, you know, try pursue the music career. So I just ask for the same support that my fans gave me on the show,” he said.
While the top prize went to Campos, the other two finalists said they left the competition with no regrets. First runner-up Tiana Sterling said she focused on enjoying the experience rather than fixating on winning. “I had fun while doing it, and I never make it like beat me up to the point as to whereby I feel defeated. I just feel energetic, and I feel happy with the result, and I just glad for the season,” she said.
Third-place finisher Judson Baker, a missionary who moved to Belize from abroad, said the competition gave him an unexpected gift: widespread recognition across the country. “I feel like I’ve gone from being, like, you know, ‘Who’s this, who’s this white guy in Public? Is this a tourist or what?’ Now people recognize me. People know my face. People know my name so I’m honored by that. You know, I never – when I came to Belize I never would’ve expected that,” he shared.
Even with the unplanned national blackout creating chaos across the country, Belize’s longest-running premier televised talent competition once again delivered a memorable finale full of joy, inspiring personal journeys, and breakout new stars. Great Belize Media, the broadcaster behind the series, has already teased future local entertainment productions for audiences across the country. Reporting from the Bliss Centre, Shane Williams for News Five.