Sometimes, finding love means taking a chance on someone you barely know. For Filipino actor and model L.A. Aguinaldo, 33, and Thai actress Frayya, 23, that chance led to an unexpected romance and the title of Winning Couple on Mediacorp’s regional dating show WINGMAN. The pair took home S$20,000 in the finale, beating fellow finalists Marco Gallo, 25, and Yuki Chong, 25, whose relationship also grew from an uncertain beginning into a promising connection.
Finding Love Through Vulnerability and Trust
What made L.A. and Frayya’s story compelling wasn’t just their attraction, but how their relationship unfolded through disagreements, honest conversations, and moments of vulnerability. Although L.A. was drawn to Frayya early on, she also explored connections with other contestants, including Tyler and Marco, before the two began growing closer. Their budding romance hit its first real obstacle when L.A.’s jealousy during a dating challenge left Frayya in tears. It was an uncomfortable moment, but one that ultimately pushed them to confront their feelings and communicate more openly.
As the days passed, their connection moved beyond flirtation. L.A. faced his fear of heights alongside Frayya and opened up about his parents’ separation, sharing his hopes of building a family of his own someday.
One of his most personal gestures was a handwritten letter that ended with a line in Thai:
Wherever there’s your smile, that’s my home.”
For Frayya, these moments built a level of trust she said she hadn’t even experienced with people she had known for years.
By the finale, the two seemed less concerned with winning than with what awaited them outside the villa. Frayya said she already felt like she was winning, hoping to leave with the love of her life. L.A., meanwhile, described meeting her as “priceless” and something that could never be replicated. Their story reminded everyone that meaningful relationships are rarely built on grand gestures alone; sometimes, they grow through the willingness to be honest, imperfect, and open with another person.
An Unlikely Connection Built on Time and Space
Their win, however, was only one of several romantic stories to emerge from WINGMAN. Marco and Yuki’s journey was just as unexpected, especially because their feelings didn’t develop at the same pace. Yuki initially joined the show as Olivia’s wingman before joining the Singles pool. She was the first to admit her feelings for Marco, telling him that he was the only person in the villa who gave her butterflies. At the time, Marco did not feel the same way.
Things changed after they went on dates and started seeing each other in a new way. Marco eventually described Yuki as the person he could most imagine having a future with, appreciating her kindness and authenticity. Their connection also seemed to bring out a more vulnerable side of him, something his best friend and wingman, Lorenzo Isip, noticed. Lorenzo remarked that it was the first time he had seen Marco truly open up to a woman.
By the end of the show, Marco and Yuki were both willing to see where their relationship might lead beyond the cameras. Yuki told him, “I really like you a lot,” and repeated the sentiment in Italian as a nod to his half-Italian heritage. Marco returned the affection, acknowledging that what they shared was real and hoping it would continue. Their story may not have ended with the winning title, but it showed how feelings can evolve when people give each other the time and space to connect.
The Power of Friendship and New Beginnings
For Lorenzo, meanwhile, the experience was about more than helping his best friend find happiness. He entered the villa determined to help Marco open up to love again, and his support throughout the competition earned him the Winning Wingman title and a S$10,000 cash prize. Yet he also found romance of his own, developing a connection with Frayya’s wingman, 21-year-old UL Ramita.
I was just happy to come to this show to help my friend – and to unexpectedly find the love of my life as well,”
Lorenzo said. Reflecting on Marco’s journey, he added,
I just wanted to help him to be happy again – and I guess I did good.”
Hosted by Mediacorp 987 personality Germaine Tan, WINGMAN brought together eight singles from across Southeast Asia, each accompanied by a close friend to help them navigate the dating experience. Over 12 episodes, the wingmen took on challenges to create opportunities for their friends, until a mid-season twist opened the dating pool to them, too. The format created space for friendships to be tested, romantic loyalties to shift, and unexpected relationships to take shape.
Ultimately, WINGMAN offered a different perspective on dating by placing friendship at the centre of the search for love. L.A. and Frayya found a connection that earned them the season’s top prize, Marco and Yuki discovered a relationship worth pursuing, and Lorenzo walked away with both recognition for his loyalty and a romance he had not anticipated. Their experiences suggest that while love rarely follows a straight path, being willing to take a chance can lead to something worth exploring.
All 12 episodes of WINGMAN stream for free on mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube channel. Produced by Beach House Pictures, the series was developed from the winning concept at Mediacorp’s Unscripted Formats Pitch during Creatives Assembly 2023, with casting beginning in December 2025 and filming taking place in May 2026.
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