The Asia Junior Got Talent Finals held on Sunday, 1 December 2019 at the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) saw 48 extremely talented finalists competing to vie for the first prize of USD1,000. Some of the talents are from China, Norway, Indonesia and Thailand.
Competition was so stiff that I really didn’t think that Sherilyn would stand a chance to emerge as the top 20 winners, let alone the top three winners. All the finalists wore splendid costumes with elaborate make-up. Their dancing and singing skills were impeccable. All of them are not new to international competitions. And a handful of the finalists are students at the Amber Chia Academy.
There were 8 judges at the competition. I can’t remember the names of all the judges but the most prominent ones whom I remember are world renowned magician Andrew Lee, Beatbox expert Koujee, co-founder of Asia Junior Got Talent Amelia Lee and violinist Dennis.
Magician Andrew Lee, who shot to fame with his daring knife and card trick on Asia’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent is the first Malaysian to perform at the London New Year’s Day Parade to usher in 2019. He’s one very amazing guy, who’s not only dashing and confident but extremely charming. Well, what do you expect from a magician; he sure can charm any girl! And he’s the judge who called Sherilyn back to the stage after her performance, got someone to pass her the mic so that he could hear Sherilyn’s interpretation of what her dance depicted and gave her some very encouraging words.
It takes someone with hell a lot of guts and tenacity to stand in front of 8 judges at the set with blinding lights and talk, dance, sing and flaunt their talent. I’m one who can never do it. I wonder where Sherilyn inherits her guts from.
All 48 finalists of the AJGT:
Of all the 48 contestants, Sherilyn was the least dressed up. She was dressed in rags with no lipstick. She used fake blood (bought at a Halloween stall recently) on her body and painted her face with black eye shadow. She really looked like a kidnap victim and very much like a vagabond poacher on the street too. The ragged t-shirt wasn’t her choice of costume. But when she could not find an apt white dress from the mall, she came up with the rags herself using a new white tee that she’s recently bought.
Sherilyn’s dance depicts a girl who’s been held bondage and tied up for years and when she finally escapes, she unleashes her freedom and euphoria through a powerful dance. I was in serious doubt that she could wow the judges with her ragged costume and lack of make-up with messed up hair. Watching each contestant present their impeccable dance in their immaculate make-up and props made me even more nervous. How could my dancer in rags compare to them? When it was finally Sherilyn’s turn, my heart thumped so loudly and I hyperventilated so loudly that I was certain those seated next to me could hear it HAHAHA!!
Sherilyn, your mom’s heart can’t take this kind of stress and anxiety anymore! But you said you’re not going to stop competing. You should know your mom’s weak heart. It’s not meant for this kind of stress!!
But Sherilyn made it to the top 20 winners!! And I just could not believe my ears when I heard her name and number announced 😱
With judge Koujee:
With one of the top 20 finalists – a Latin dance couple (they’re only 12 years old and what a cute dance couple they make!) who performed extremely well in their routine. Sherilyn made a few friends from this competition, including the contestant from China.
My 8-hour camp at FINAS wasn’t that bored as I made friends with this little cute girl’s mom and grandmother. Nathelie, the cutie pie who could sing and dance like a pro is also one of the top 20 winners. She’s been competing locally and internationally since she was 6 years old and she’s such a natural talent and charmer! Her grandma (in dark glasses) is in her 70s and such a hot grandma. Both she and her daughter (Nathelie’s mom) took good care of Sherilyn when I hadn’t arrived at the studio yet. Nathelie’s mom helped me to record Sherilyn’s performance projected on the screen while I went backstage to watch and video record. They’re truly guardian angels!
Next year will be a ‘gap year’ for Sherilyn, a year where she will stop competing to concentrate in her studies as it’s her PT3 exam year. She will start competing again the following year when she’s 16. Hopefully we’ll meet Nathelie and her mom and grandmother again in one of those competitions in future.
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