If you’re anything like me, you probably spent way too much time staring at a giant, fuzzy Piranha or a literal herd of Buffalo, trying to figure out if that specific vibrato belonged to a 90s icon or a TikTok star. 2024 was a wild year for The Masked Singer. We didn't just get one winner; because of how the production schedules fell, we actually got three major champions across the US and UK versions of the show.
Honestly, the talent was kind of off the charts this time around.
Who won The Masked Singer 2024 in the US?
The US version of the show actually aired two full seasons in 2024. It feels like a lot, right? But the producers keep find ways to make us second-guess everything we thought we knew about celebrity vocal cords.
Season 11: The Year of the Goldfish
In May 2024, Season 11 wrapped up with a finale that left most of the internet saying, "I knew it!" The winner was Goldfish, who was unmasked as none other than Vanessa Hudgens.
She was incredible.
Hudgens basically dominated the competition from the jump. Her performance of "Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo in the premiere was so distinct that High School Musical fans clocked her voice within about ten seconds. She ended up beating out Scott Porter (from Friday Night Lights), who was hiding under the Gumball mask.
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Vanessa actually mentioned later that being under the mask gave her a weird sense of freedom. She was pregnant during the filming, too, which adds a whole other layer of "how did she do that?" to her performances.
Season 12: A Historic Group Win
Then came the fall. Season 12 of the US show finished right before the holidays in December 2024, and it made history. For the first time ever in the American series, a group took home the Golden Mask Trophy.
The winners were The Buffalos, unmasked as the legendary R&B trio Boyz II Men (Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Nathan Morris).
They were sort of unstoppable. Hearing those three-part harmonies coming out of giant, cowboy-themed buffalo costumes was surreal. They beat out Mario (the "Let Me Love You" singer), who was the Wasp.
The Masked Singer UK 2024 Winner
Across the pond, the UK also crowned a champion in early 2024. This one felt a bit more like a rock-and-roll takeover.
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Piranha was the last one standing, and when the mask came off, it was Danny Jones from the band McFly.
The judges—especially Rita Ora—were losing their minds over his range. He was hitting notes that most people didn't know Danny Jones had in him. He beat out Alex Brooker (the comedian from The Last Leg), who was the runner-up as Bigfoot.
2024 Winner Quick List
- US Season 11: Vanessa Hudgens (Goldfish)
- US Season 12: Boyz II Men (The Buffalos)
- UK Season 5: Danny Jones (Piranha)
Why the 2024 Winners Were Different
There’s a lot of talk about whether the show is getting "easier" to guess. Social media definitely makes it harder for celebrities to hide. Within minutes of a performance hitting YouTube, fans have already isolated the vocals and compared them to concert footage from ten years ago.
But Season 12's win by Boyz II Men changed the dynamic. Usually, the show relies on one person's stage presence. Having a full vocal group meant the "clues" had to be shared, and the physical performance had to be choreographed for three people in bulky suits.
It’s also worth noting that Rita Ora has become the bridge between the two worlds, appearing as a judge on both the UK and US panels in 2024. She actually correctly guessed Danny Jones in the UK and was there to see her friend Vanessa Hudgens win in the US.
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What to Watch Next
If you're looking to catch up on what you missed, the best way is to go back and watch the "Road to the Finals" episodes. They usually pack all the best clues and performances into a tight hour.
Most people just watch the reveals on YouTube, but you miss the nuance of the vocal evolution. Seeing how Vanessa Hudgens adapted her voice to suit different genres—from Blondie to Elton John—is really where the skill shows.
Key Takeaways for Fans:
- Check out the Season 12 finale if you want to see the first-ever group win.
- Look for Vanessa Hudgens' "Heart of Glass" performance; it’s widely considered one of the best in the show's history.
- Keep an eye on the UK version if you want more "out there" costume designs—they tend to get a bit weirder than the US ones.
You can find most of these full seasons streaming on Hulu (for the US) or ITVX (for the UK). If you're into the technical side of things, pay attention to the "Masked Ambassador" clues from Season 12, as they actually provided the most solid leads for the winners.
Next Steps for Your Binge-Watching:
- Watch the Buffalos' acapella performance: Their rendition of "Too Good at Goodbyes" is a masterclass in harmony.
- Compare the winners: Listen to Danny Jones' Piranha vs. Vanessa Hudgens' Goldfish to see how a pop-rock background differs from a musical theater background on this stage.
- Check the Season 13 rumors: Production is already moving, and several names from the sports world are already being floated by "spoiler" accounts.