Mau Marcelo

Maureen "Mau" Flores Marcelo is the winner of the first season of Philippine Idol in 2006. Born on May 13, 1980, for a time she went by the stage name of Samantha Brown. Her father is an American citizen of African and Spanish blood from Puerto Rico while her mother is Filipina. The father left when she was four months old, then her mother died when she was 14.

Hailing from Lucena City, Mau started singing at age 7. By her 20s, she was a veteran of singing competitions, including the Star for a Night singer-search, and has won in over 200 amateur singing competitions.

Prior to Philippine Idol, Mau had also recorded a self-titled album of ten songs composed by her stepsister's husband under the name Samantha Brown. Currently, Mau lives with her long-time partner Ritchie Bonilla and their 2 children.