Fifteen-year-old Filipino singer Marlisa Punzalan proved she has the biggest X factor, winning Australia's most popular reality talent competition on Monday.
Punzalan is the youngest singer to win X Factor Australia, besting 22-year-old rock singer Dean Ray and Brothers 3 in the grand finals.
"I just can't believe, I feel like I'm floating on a cloud right now," Punzalan said after being declared the winner in the show, which was attended by singer Taylor Swift.
Punzalan stood out with her powerful vocals and stage presence. For her final song, she sang a supercharged version of Titanium, earning praise from the judges.
Singer and former Boyzone member Ronan Keating, who mentored Punzalan, expressed her praise for teen. "She's been unbelievable, what a superstar. So deserving of the title," Keating said.
Punzalan, the daughter of Filipino migrants in Australia, is the only Filipino performer who made it to the finals. Trill, a group of Filipino teenagers, were eliminated in the first live show.
"Thank you so much, everyone who voted and everyone who supported me, thank you so much. I couldn't have gotten this far," Punzalan said in a video message to fans.
The message was instantly answered by fans, including expats in Dubai, many of them expressing their admiration through Twitter and other social media networks.
"I've supported her since day 1. I am so proud of you my dearest IDOL MARLISA PUNZALAN!! [sic]" RJ Capin said on Twitter.
"She deserved to win with such an amazing and crystal clear voice," Dubai expat, Celerino, told Gulf News.
Another Dubai expat, Rosana, said she expected Punzalan to win and that her relatives in Perth voted for the singer. "I saw her when she auditioned and her voice is really amazing... she deserved to win," she told Gulf News.
