Justine Afante, the 13-year-old Filipino student from Swansea, Wales, UK, was crowned the grand champion of The Voice Kids UK 2020 last August 29.
The singer, mentored by English singer-songwriter Pixie Lott, beat fellow Filipino Victoria Alsina from Team will.i.am, George Elliot from Team Danny Jones, and Dara McNicholl from Team Paloma Faith.
Justine is the WINNER of #TheVoiceKidsUK 2020 👑🎉🎤
— The Voice Kids UK (@thevoicekidsuk) August 29, 2020
What a beautiful journey she's been on with @pixielott, and it's only just begun. Congratulations #TeamPixie! pic.twitter.com/nCg4Ypit4i
As the grand winner of the show, Afante bagged a cash prize of 30,000 pounds and a VIP theme park experience at the Universal Orlando Resort.
For the finalé, she wowed judges and viewers with her rendition of "Listen" by Beyoncé.
During the judges' critiques, Afante's mentor Pixie said she was overwhelmed by her performance.
“I know how much you’ve grown. You didn’t know you could hit these notes. You’re singing notes higher than Beyonce. You’ve had that in you all along." Pixie said.
"But now, because you are believing in yourself, and I feel so lucky that I’ve got to witness that, all those people that said you had no talent, you have just proved them 100 percent wrong,” she added.
Jones, on the other hand, called the 13-year-old's performance "unbelievable."
“You come up on that stage and you look so calm, composed, professional and most of all, just effortless. What an amazing way to kick off this finale,” he said.
Black Eyed Peas rapper will.i.am said Afante's performance kept on getting better and better.
“Your performance was like the perfect performance to prove anyone wrong that kids under 14 don’t have extraordinary talent. You are the poster child for ‘The Voice Kids,’” he told Afante.
Lastly, Faith felt grateful that Afante came into the competition "humble enough" to sing for them.
“I feel grateful that you’re so humble enough to come sing to us because that was a very expensive performance,” she said.
Apart from her solo performance, Afante also took to the stage with mentor Pixie to perform "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" by Tori Kelly during the show's last episode.
A total of five Filipino singers made it passed the Blind Auditions of this year's The Voice Kids UK.