He’s the “nicest kid you’ll ever meet”, wrote one fan on Facebook, as the love for the 19 year old from Dapto continues to flow on social media.
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Cyrus Villanueva is on fire and lighting up hearts across the nation on television’s reality show The X Factor, surviving Tuesday’s live decider.
The former Kanahooka High School School student first wowed judges earlier this year with his acoustic performance of The Weekend’s “Earned It”. Guy Sebastian proclaiming he was exactly what they were looking for on the show.
McDonald’s manager James Dinardo has know Villanueva for years after working as a support teacher at his high school. He was one of several to give the singer a break during his tertiary studies and let him busk outside the Albion Park store every Saturday.
“It gives me goosebumps every time we watch him,” he said. “It’s just unreal, he’s worked so hard to get where he is.”
Mr Dinardo remembers Villanueva would often pick up a guitar at school and would encourage him with his music, but noted the youngster wanted to finish his education before trying his hand at stardom.
Cyrus is such a wonderful kid, you can see that coming through on X Factor.
- Jo Kowalczyk
“The reason people get behind him is because what you see is what you get. He is just a mates over on a Sunday BBQ kind of guy,” he said.
The first time Villanueva played a solo gig was at Dapto’s Little Joe’s restaurant and bar.
Co-owner Jo Kowalczyk said they were contacted by the muso with a link to a YouTube clip and were blown away.
“We instantly fell in love with him,” she said. “He did his final gig here before he got locked away in the X Factor house on Fathers Day. We were lucky enough that his dad got up and sang a few musical numbers with him which was just amazing.”
His father Jo Vill is a regular on the Illawarra music scene, while Ms Kowalczyk said his entire family were just delightful.
“Cyrus is such a wonderful kid, you can see that coming through on X Factor - he’s so genuine and so lovely,” she said.
18 year old Courtney Maylin of Dapto agreed and said the fame had in no way changed her close friend who was still a humble person and so thankful for all of the support.
“He is still making time in his busy schedule to keep in contact with all of us. And it's great to see his journey through his Snapchat story every day as well,” she said.