Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

UPDATE: "Singing baby" Melanie Amaro wins X Factor USA!

- Drops to her knees on stage & thanks God for amazing victory
Melanie Amaro was speechless and in tears following the announcement that she was the winner of the first X Factor USA. Photo: Courtesy of Fox
Melanie Amaro, who has been singing all her life, spent a number of her childhood years in the VI.
Melanie Amaro, who has been singing all her life, spent a number of her childhood years in the VI.
Melanie Amaro (centre), is the winner of X Factor USA. The the other two finalists were Chris Renne (left) and Josh Krajcik. Photo: Courtesy of X-Factor
Melanie Amaro (centre), is the winner of X Factor USA. The the other two finalists were Chris Renne (left) and Josh Krajcik. Photo: Courtesy of X-Factor
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- You could have heard even a pin hit the floor as the X Factor finalists and millions around the world, including this reporter in his living room, watched and listened last evening December 22, 2011 for the announcement of the winner between Melanie Amaro and Josh Krajcik.

“Tens of thousands of hopeful singers auditioned. Based on your votes we are down to the final two. Who has America chosen as the winner?....The winner of the X Factor is...,” there was a total 13 seconds that expired before the announcer final eased the pain and shouted “Melanie Amaro”.

The 19 year old was stunned and then burst into tears before dropping to her knees and loudly thanked God for her amazing victory. For her effort she won a $5M recording contract and the chance to perform a Pepsi Commercial at the Super Bowl.

Earlier, the competition was further narrowed down to Josh Krajcik and Amaro after Chris Rene was eliminated midway in the two-hour finale that also saw performances by 50 Cent, Pitbull, Justin Bieber, Stevie Wonder and Leona Lewis.

After much tears and celebration Melanie was finally able to utter the words “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” and then “Thank you so much, I am so happy and I don’t know what to say. This is something I wanted all my life”.

The 19-year-old Amaro, who was born in Florida but spent a number of her childhood days in the Virgin islands, had been tipped by the four judges to win following a powerful rendition of Beyonce's hit "Listen".

Amaro gets a $5 million contract with Simon Cowell's Sony Music-owned record label SyCo and a starring role in a new commercial from sponsor Pepsi.

“I want to say to America thank you for giving this girl the opportunity. She is going to represent this country. She is a star...,” said Cowell, who brought the show to American television after making it the most-watched in his native Britain. "We came here to find a superstar and we found a superstar," said Cowell.

Krajcik, 30, who worked in a burrito restaurant before joining the show said “I feel amazing. Melanie deserves it, she has a wonderful voice. I got such an incredible experience here. I got to be myself, sing what I want to sing and I couldn’t be happier”.

Prior to the announcement of the winner, Melanie’s mother Deborah Sylvester Amaro said “I am proud, I am very excited. I am happy to see that Melanie is living her dream singing as a little girl. I love you Melanie, congratulations and all the best to you”.

In a previous interview with this news agency, Melanie’s mother, Deborah Sylvester Amaro had revealed her daughter is a “wonderful and humble young lady.”

Giving a recap of Melanie’s early singing career, Mrs. Amaro traces it back to her pregnancy and Melanie’s infant stage.

“When I was pregnant with her, we are Christians, when I went for a revival meeting, the minister that was preaching called me up out of the crowd and told me, he put a song in my baby’s heart and she will always be singing,” Mrs. Amaro recalled, noting that she was seven months pregnant and didn’t even know she was having a girl baby.

She recalled when Melanie was just about six months old she would get up around 2 a.m. and would sing. “We don’t know what she is singing and she would go back to sleep and she hasn’t stopped singing since.”

She said her daughter has never really entered competitions before but was always singing at weddings, churches and other events.

Regarding her entrance into X-Factor in April 2011 and how she decided to get into it, Mrs. Amaro revealed that she pushed her daughter to enter into the competition and today is proud of that decision.

31 Responses to “UPDATE: "Singing baby" Melanie Amaro wins X Factor USA!”

  • USA Student (22/12/2011, 07:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    she did well last night
  • billy b (22/12/2011, 07:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    FROM THE TIME RACHEL CROW WENT HOME, I KNEW MELANIE WAS THE WINNER. CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE DEBBIE, POPS AND MELANIE!!!!!!!!! BUT I THINK THE THE BVI NEED TO STOP IT!!!!! IF SHE WAS HERE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP HER WITH A SINGING CAREER, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN PUSHED ASIDE. NOW THEY ALL TRYING TO JUMP ON HER COAT, RIDE IT AND BIG HER UP.. SHOW MORE INTEREST IN THE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS OF OUR PEOPLE, BVI!!!!!
  • Shara Parlin (22/12/2011, 08:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    see what me aint like wid deeds Tola people dem always up and down saying who from here and who is not and just because Melaine tis famous on tv all of them Tola people claiming she and saying she form here and giving she the red carpit with open arms...........dey girl born in the states not bvi yall..ayo Tola peole to one sided
    • Guest (23/12/2011, 00:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Actually if you watched the show she was the one who claimed the BVI... Your name speaks exactly to your own stupidity and miserable nature, why don't you go and look and see if you can see Russia from your house LOL!!!!
    • SUE (23/12/2011, 10:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      LMAO well ah tis only VINO we'll find the straight up people. ayo couldn't say it any better. DA was here as a toddler too I thought when u in BVI u must never forget where you come from but they seem to forget this girl was born in AMERICA and NOT THE BVI!
  • as man (22/12/2011, 08:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    at (billy b) 100% with you on that, the bvi government is a joke real talk, before iyaz made it he was trying to get help & being the the local stage shows & bvi musicfest, but as alway's our own was not good enough for them, (iyaz) went out hit (reply) being number 1 in the uk and number 3 in the usa now he's the man, now the bvi want to show like them care, we have lincoln ward,heritage,imo,ritical & other who have good music,better than nuff artist from even ja & some artist from the usa and the bvi government just by pass them,untill they hit an award or something, now we have melanie,if she was in the bvi before all of this and wanted to be on the bvi musicfest would our government give her the chance to prove herself? i think not, if i was she after i win, i would not care to work with the bvi government in terms of promoting the virgin islands, just like iyaz, when last iyaz mention the bvi or virgin islands in his tunes, a reason why, he love the virgin islands, the people & fans, but it the stinking government that turns him off, so my love is with melanie you go girl, shine like the star that you will be......... p.s im a dj, so if you win or not, i will still play all your tunes.............that's real talk!
    • whatIthink (24/12/2011, 09:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      as man you do realize that these local stage shows are not run by the government, don't you? If Iyaz went to the MusicFest people to ask for a gig, and they said no - whether it's the new bunch or Frank - how does that reflect on the government? No government controls the show line-ups. In any case if you've been to any of these music shows here you'd see that the local artistes always come on first - they always open for the regional or the international artistes so they get their time on stage too. Finally my point is that these artistes from the other countries have agents and promoters who big them up and get them gigs at home, and abroad - they get them on tours, etc. It's not their governments that do it. That's not how it works, anywhere in the world except for a few communist countries. Around the world, artistes build on their local followings, get gigs locally, get representation when they can show they have a following and have potential and then their agent is responsible for getting them tv interviews, sponsorship, gigs, ets. Why everybody in the BVI is always expecting government to be everything to them, I don't know!
  • hello (22/12/2011, 09:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    is it too late to vote for Melaine????
  • crazy (22/12/2011, 11:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Many tolian's are born in the usa that isn't a secret(education, health what ever other reasons we use) being born in the usa doesn't make you an American, its where u were raised and how you were raised, she claimed the VI. Another thing, if you aren't happy with what the people in the VI say about you not being born there leave. trying coming to america or Euro as a non-american/european or any other place in the world and push to hard to influence you will get the same response. Many of the same people who is upset about what is said in the VI, very well know in their home country they respond the same way, Jamican's, TT, St kitts Antiguan same crap so move on!!!!! By the way I am a product of the same tolian/non tolian parents and i know the difference there a many tolian norms that is not a norm to me. However no generational tolian can tell me what I am and what I am not, at the same time show some respect for people and their home and on the other side tolians need to stop being so nasty, but do understand where some of it comes from.
    • Philipa (23/12/2011, 10:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      CRAZY: U SOUND LIKE A NATURAL BVISLANDER BIAS!
      • crazy (23/12/2011, 11:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Just maybe a lil bias, wouldn't you be in your own home!!!!!!!!!!! I invite you in show some respect and then maybe ill treat as one.
      • crazy (23/12/2011, 14:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        That might just be tru, its my home and i will respond to any one trying to tell me that my way of life isn't the right way whether it is by action or by spoken words. However, no matter how bias my words may seem, I have never disrepected any one from a different nation and I have never used words like Island man/woman to depict another national. That would be out right stupid, was raised by a non-VIlander. But I know what it is like have another national running you over with little regard for what you are trying to accomplish. So you dont tell me crap about being bias I should be alot more than just bias.
      • killer whale (23/12/2011, 17:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        the point again is what "CRAZY"
  • so so (22/12/2011, 12:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    keep dey thing to the subject tis bout Melanie and her expected win
    • wwww (22/12/2011, 14:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      for real yall
    • billy b (22/12/2011, 16:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @so so. You tink tis about Melanie and her expected win. When she win, just watch the Government and Tourist Board and see if they don't make it all about them.
      • hmm (22/12/2011, 23:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        yea.. ur right.. and they will go to her grandmother to make her grandmother pressure her into doing something for the bvi..
  • Kris (22/12/2011, 21:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes all of them on the band wagon lol lol lol you bvi islanders
  • Prophecy (22/12/2011, 23:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well she dud it. Made me cry. I am very proud of her.
  • Lower Estate (23/12/2011, 00:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow, all along I really did not know who she was. The name Amaro didn't ring. Bell, but Sylvester does. Her uncle Daniel (pops) and I were high school class mates and of course I know her aunt Yody, her grandmother, late grandfather and her mom. Born in e US or not she is a BVIslander and I am proud of her and all Virgin Islanders who pursue their dreams abroad and make us proud. My children are US and BVI citizens like so many others and when they make it big, the US would say they are from so and so state in the US and of course BVI has the right to big up our own. I want to also say how proud I am of the BVI for supporting Melanie with our votes. We are typically known to be a people who do not support our own, but this time we proved the nay Sayers wrong. Hasheem, MBJ, Jace, Joseph, and the many other young talents from the VI! I proud ah ayo too and can't wait to also celebrate your big moment.
  • BVI .com (23/12/2011, 06:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Congratulations and big Ups Melanie. You are a great and talented singer!!!!!!! Get some records out soon girl.
  • Mr. Blak (23/12/2011, 08:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Congrats to Melanie for an awesome performance and she was the first to big up BVI on the air. She is so humble and that will take her FAR!
  • zeeeeeeeeeeeee (23/12/2011, 08:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    wow hope she puts the bvi on the map!
  • hot rock (23/12/2011, 09:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    HERE HERE HERE HERE Go Melanie GIRL, the skyies is not the limited.
  • mother hen (23/12/2011, 10:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We the people of the BVI are so proud of you Melanie. Girl you have an amazing.....
  • dog meat to go (23/12/2011, 16:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    hope she vist the bvi soon and promote we on her many interviews
  • ready or not here i come (24/12/2011, 10:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    5 million dollars contract wow!!!!
  • SERVICE (24/12/2011, 15:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    GOOD JOB MELAINE
  • land mass (25/12/2011, 19:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so when is she coming back Tola?


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.