BRITAIN has a new star – and she’s an 18-year-old Zimbabwean whose ambition is “to be somebody ... someone people talk about”.
Gamuchirai Nhengu became an instant TV sensation when 12 million people watched her waltz through an audition for the hit ITV talent search show – X-Factor -- on Saturday night.
Gamu's unique rendition of Katrina and the Waves' 1983 hit Walking on Sunshine had the Glasgow audience on their feet screaming.
And the charismatic student's stage confidence dissolved when she tearfully told judges: "This means everything.
"I want to give something back to my mum, she has worked so hard.”
Mum Nokuthula, 38, who left Zimbabwe in 2005 with Gamu and her two brothers Milton, 11, and Marty, 10, broke into tears backstage as judges Simon Cowell, Geri Halliwell, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh waxed lyrical about her performance.
Gamu says life in Scotland “took a lot of getting used to” but admits “it’s like a second home now”.
She attended the Glasgow audition for X-Factor in June, although it was only screened on Saturday.
Gamu, who wore a red rose in her hair, did not prepare the millions of TV viewers for her storming performance, saying in an advance recording played before she went on: “When I get on that stage, I want everybody to leave Glasgow and think, ‘the girl with the flower in her hair, she was great.’ That’s all I want.”
And asked by ex-Spice Girl judge Halliwell what her ambition was, she replied: “My ambition? I want to be somebody. I want to make something. I want to be someone people talk about.”
Talk about her Britain did, and even before the rest of the auditions from around the country are aired on TV, leading bookmaker William Hill has made her a 10/1 favourite to go all the way and win this year's contest.
Gamu will join dozens of other finalists in October for the live shows which will follow the screening of the auditions.
WATCH GAMU'S X-FACTOR AUDITION