Mario on his second-place finish as Wasp on ‘The Masked Singer’: ‘I still feel like I won’

Grammy-nominated R&B icon Mario was unmasked as the Wasp on Wednesday night’s Season 12 finale of The Masked Singer. Despite losing the Golden Mask Trophy to Boyz II Men (the Buffalos), the entertainer is still proud of his accomplishment and proclaims to Gold Derby, “I’m still the Wasp, baby!”

“I wasn’t so much focused on the actual win,” says the “Let Me Love You” singer. “I’m very competitive, but I focus on the journey at all times. I still feel like I won. Boyz II Men is one of my favorite groups, if not my favorite, since I was a kid. I’ve been able to use that inspiration to be where I am today. It was a pleasure sharing the stage. There’s no losing in this for me.”

The triple threat was able to showcase his full range of talents throughout his time on the show, but reveals his performance of Benson Boone‘s “Beautiful Things” was his favorite. “I resonate with that song on so many levels. I love, vocally, how the conversation starts and where he takes it, unexpectedly, during the chorus. It was a really great turning point for the Wasp.”

SEE Boyz II Men on winning ‘The Masked Singer’ despite their best efforts to sabotage themselves

Panelist Rita Ora was the first to identify the singer’s unique tone weeks before his true identity was revealed. He credits her own musical background as a “cheat code,” explaining that “she’s wired to hear voices.”

Mario was signed to his first record deal when he was just 14 years old, but considers the true start of his career singing in his mother’s living room when he was just six. He describes himself as a “loner” and “introvert” who had a difficult time navigating the music business. Despite his personality traits, Mario remembers, “I sang at every talent show. I sang at every birthday, church, barber shops, everywhere. That’s all I knew. That was the easy part. The hard part was just adjusting as a young kid. But, it all ended up being a blessing.”

Mario’s sixth studio album Glad You Came was released on Dec. 13. Executive produced by James Fauntleroy, the collection features the lead single “Space,” which pays homage to his grandfather who would make him listen to jazz music all day.

He also has a new video for “Keep Going (Aaaaahhhhh)” which the singer co-directed with James Bahman. His goal is to take listeners on “a journey” that “massages the mind of a woman who loves R&B” and gives men “some game” when it comes to communication. “A lot of stuff on the internet is about men and women one-upping each other,” he explains. “It should be about us appreciating our differences and how we’re both powerful in our own way. This album embodies that whole concept of intimacy, vulnerability, accountability, confidence, and good music.”

Mario will join Mary J. Blige and Masked Singer Season 10 champ, Ne-Yo, on tour in 2025. He guarantees a “heavy” night of “good R&B” hits with “real vocals.”