18-Year Old Zimbabwean Wins Top UK Singing Competition
Blessing Chitapa, an 18-year old Zimbabwean, has won The Voice UK 2020 singing competition.
Chitapa saw off stiff competition from Jonny Brooks, who was coached by Sir Tom Jones, in the final and wowed this year's virtual audience, which voted for the winner during the socially distanced final.
Each of the finalists pre-recorded their performances last week, which were watched by a virtual audience and mentors Tom Jones, Will.i.am, Meghan Trainor and Olly Murs.
Blessing grew up in Zimbabwe and then moved to the UK in 2009 at the age of seven. She is so passionate about music that she has even built her own recording studio in her back garden where she practices with her sister.
Chitapa, who lives in Dudley in the West Midlands, sang Robbie Williams’ Angels and James Bay’s Hold Back The River in the final.
The latter song was a duet with her mentor Olly Murs.
A tearful Chitapa said she is “so happy to have sung on this stage”.
“It has been an honour and my privilege and it has been unforgettable,” she added.
After she sang Angels, Murs said: “You are just a phenomenal talent and even I’m getting emotional here after that performance.”
“I am so proud of how far I have come and I’m so intrigued to see what the future holds for me,” Blessing Chitapa further added.
Following her win, Olly said: “Blessing absolutely deserves to be crowned the winner of this year’s Voice UK! I’ve always believed in her from the start, and to think that I was the only Coach who turned for her is amazing.
“She’s got an incredible voice, infectious personality and has a bright future ahead of her. I can’t wait to see what she does next.”
As the daughter of a pastor and reverend at a local church in Dudley, Blessing says faith plays a massive role in her life and her success so far.
As well as singing, the teenager has a passion for the sciences and dreams of becoming a doctor or surgeon if she doesn’t become a professional musician.
About The Voice UK
The Voice UK is a British singing competition television series. Created by John de Mol, it premiered on BBC One during the spring television cycle on 24 March 2012.
Based on the original The Voice of Holland, and part of The Voice franchise, it has aired eight seasons and aims to find currently unsigned singing talent (solo or duets, professional and amateur) contested by aspiring singers, drawn from public auditions. The winners receive a recording contract with Polydor Records.
