All the celebrities have been unmasked on the third season of Ten’s The Masked Singer

SPOILERS: The final three celebrities have been revealed on The Masked Singer Australia -who was crowned the winner of the third season of Ten’s bonkers reality show?

International superstar singer Anastacia has been crowned winner, with Em Rusciano runner-up, of the third season of The Masked Singer Australia as the final three celebrities were unmasked.

There were little surprises as US pop singer Anastacia as Vampire, comedian and presenter Em Rusciano as Dolly and former Australian Idol contestant Axle Whitehead as Mullet were the final three contestants to be unmasked during Tuesday’s grand finale.

Eagle-eared social media pundits had already tipped the three voices as the competition reached the pointy end.

The final three took to the stage all together, before being joined by all previous revealed contestants to sing a version of Kylie Minogue’s – judge Dannii Minogue’s sister – On A Night Like This.

New season of The Masked Singer – Mullet

Axle Whitehead came in third place as Mullet. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

Mullet belted out Born to be Wild as the panel took some pretty wild guesses,. Hughesy with John Farnham, Minogue as Samuel Johnson, despite the actor being in an horrific accident, and Carlson locked in surfer Kelly Slater. Only Jackie correctly picking Whitehead, giving her two correct choices for the season.

New season of The Masked Singer – Dolly

Em Rusciano was runner-up in this season of The Masked Singer. Picture: Supplied.

Next up was Dolly with Florence and the Machine’s You Got The Love. Hughesy suggested she might be Shania Twain, Jackie O went with Ricki-Lee despite saying she wasn’t convinced, Urzila stuck with Missy Higgins, while Dannii was correct in locking in Rusciano, also giving her two correct choices this season.

New season of The Masked Singer – Vampire

American singer Anastacia. Picture: (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Last up was Vampire who delivered a powerhouse performance with Live and Let Die. Hughesy correctly picked it was an international star, but wrongly suggested Shakira, Carlson went with Sheryl Crow, Jackie O and Minogue ended their guess streak on a high with a win with their correct guess of Anastacia.

Anastacia was arguably this season’s biggest ‘get’ - a platinum-selling international pop star who had the biggest song in Australia back in 2000 with her mega-hit I’m Outta Love. That was the first of a string of hit singles and albums for the 53-year-old.

Anastacia says she was drawn to take part in the show because it gave her a chance to perform during the pandemic.

“The industry is completely frozen. We have no stages to go on, we can‘t have crowds, and I understand that because I want to keep people safe, but I miss doing my job and I really, really miss singing. And so this was such a beautiful, like, get out of jail free card,” she said.

“I don‘t know when I’m gonna be able to tour. I’m hopeful, but I might be 75 by the time I get on the stage.”

When host Osher Günsberg asked why she joined The Masked Singer Australia, Anastacia said: “I was actually asking myself that question when I saw the costume for the first time. I was terrified to be the Vampire.”

International singing sensation Anastacia (pictured) has been crowned winner of the third season of The Masked Singer. Picture: Ten.

Whitehead, 40, who placed third, was perhaps the least-known celeb in the final - a contestant on season one of Australian Idol, he later turned to TV presenting and released a solo album but has had a lower public profile in recent years, outside of a 2020 guest role on Neighbours.

He laughed as he said he embodied his character of the Mullet by sporting the exact same haircut.

Whitehead said: “It has been such a blast to get in touch with my inner bogan and be able to just take him on. What a character!”

Axle Whitehead truly embraced his inner bogan as Mullet coming third place in the bonkers reality show. Picture: Ten.

Runner-up Em Rusciano’s fans picked her as the Dolly very early on in the season, and the 42-year-old professional singer and performer- also a contestant on the second season of Australian Idol - played coy about the speculation on social media.

She fought back tears as she described how much being Dolly has meant to her.

Em said: “I haven’t been able to sing live in 18 months. I am a live performer so this has been magic. It’s put all the magic back into my blood. This has been the best experience of my life.”

Em Rusciano fought back tears as she was announced runner-up saying it’s been magic being able to perform after so long. Picture: Ten.

Earlier, the Kebab was revealed as Aussie singer Jack Vidgen on Monday night’s penultimate episode, causing embarrassment for judge Dannii Minogue – who was also on the judging panel 10 years ago when Vidgen first shot to fame as the winner of Australia’s Got Talent.

It was possibly more embarrassing for Jackie O, who was totally mortified last week when a one-episode special guest was revealed to be her on-air co-host of more than 20 years, Kyle Sandilands. She’d incorrectly guessed he was actor Anthony LaPaglia.

The other celebrities who were hidden behind Oscar-winning costume designer Tim Chappel’s stunning creations were Aussie singers such as Ella Hooper, Mahalia Barnes and Ben Lee, other local identities including TV chef George Calombaris and rugby legend Lote Tuquri, and even a smattering of big international names: British actor Vinnie Jones and US soul singer Macy Gray.

Originally published as All the celebrities have been unmasked on the third season of Ten’s The Masked Singer