A Shell Cove musician credits herself as mentor to X Factor hopeful Cyrus Villanueva, and says she helped guide him to audition for the reality show and to his first live performance.
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Blessie Pica, 27, knew the singer when he was a child but was reintroduced to him at the beginning of 2015 and quickly realised he was unique.
“Seeing his undeniable natural raw talent, we began a close working relationship which led me to be somewhat of a mentor for the young performer,” she said.
Ms Pica began booking gigs for the muso, as well as getting him into the nationally run Urbanstar talent show, taking out the local division before getting snapped up on TV. She said the 19 year old had grown from timid to now vibrant and confident.
The contest boasts a long line of past X Factor finalists, and had Iggy Azalea compete in 2008 under the name ‘Amethyst’.
Urbanstar Talent Alumni:
Jai Waetford (X-Factor 2013, Top 3)
Jacinta Gulisano (Third Degree, X-Factor 2013, Top 4)
William Singe (The Collective, X-Factor 2012, Top 4)
Shavaun Marie (X-Factor 2013, Paris Inc., 2015)
Jasmin Nasser (Elements, X-Factor 2013)
BEATZ (X-Factor 2014)
Sheralyn Hill (Trill, X-Factor 2014, Top 12)
Jessica Jade (Trill, X-Factor 2014, Top 12)
Serenity Palomares (XoX, X-Factor 2014, Top 12)
Tee Toleafoa (X-Factor 2014, Top 6)
Carla Wehbe (X-Factor 2013)
Leon Kyson Lee (Australia’s Got Talent 2013)
TKay Maidza (Universal Music)
Iggy Azalea (Mercury Records)