Shanaya Atkinson-Jones gave an emotional performance on The X Factor 2017 at her first audition.
One of the acts to face the judges at the room auditions was 19-year-old Shanaya from County Durham, where she lives with her mum and dad.
Shanaya confessed to suffering from nerves before her performance, with her parents on hand to offer support.
“I sing all the time around the house, hairbrush in my hand,” said Shanaya,” The other day I got told by the neighbour to shut the window and be quiet.”
“My mum will be really nervous and my dad will be like ‘We can’t be more nervous than she is’,” added Shanaya of her parents, who adopted her aged 3.
Shanaya said of her singing: “It makes me feel happy and brings out emotion.”
“Go for it!” encouraged guest judge Alesha Dixon who was standing in for an ill Sharon Osbourne.
Shanaya then burst into song, performing A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera’s Say Something which prompted a lot of tears.
“I thought that was beautiful,” reacted Simon Cowell. “What has been the thing that has broke your confidence and now made you come out of that?”
“I had a rough start in life, I was adopted,” explained Shanaya. “And now because I’m so happy with my parents and everyone I have in my family.. that’s brought me back.”
“Everything I hoped we were going to find this year is now standing in front of me,” said Simon.
And Alesha praised: “You pitched that perfectly.”
Simon and Alesha weren’t the only ones won over as Shanaya got herself four yeses through to the next round.
Other acts on Shanaya’s audition show included Jordan Rabjohn who sings original song Mexico and teenager Shanaya Atkinson-Jones who gives an emotional performance as she leaves the judges in tears with a cover of A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera’s Say Something.
The X Factor 2017 airs Saturday and Sunday nights on ITV.