18-year-old Zimbabwe-born Blessing Chitapa has been crowned as the winner of The Voice UK.
The singer was named as the winner during Saturday’s episode of the ITV talent competition following a fierce singing battle against three other competitors.
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.”
Earlier in the series, Murs became Chitapa’s mentor after he was the only judge to turn his chair during her audition.
Chitapa said winning the competition “is my biggest achievement yet”.
“I am so proud of how far I have come and I’m so intrigued to see what the future holds for me,” she added.
Blessing started the competition at the age of 17 years old.
Due to the coronavirus restrictions this year, it was the longest ever wait for a winner to be crowned and she turned 18 years old in March.
The singer hails from Dudley in the West Midlands, where she grew up after moving from Zimbabwe at the age of seven.
She comes from a family of gospel singers and lives with her mum, dad, brother and sister. Her mum, Sarita, works as an occupational therapist and her dad, Cleopas, is a pastor and reverend at a local church.
When she is not singing, Blessing has a keen passion for the sciences and dreams of becoming a doctor or surgeon if a music career doesn’t pan out.
In her garden, she has built a recording studio where she practices her craft with her sister. She also sings for her church congregation every week.
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