Perth’s Gisella Colletti is on the cusp of history after she was voted into the grand final of Australian Idol thanks to a dazzling display on Monday night.
If Colletti, 16, is successful in the final three, she would become the first person from Western Australia to win the competition.
On Monday, she performed a powerful rendition of Eric Carmen’s All by Myself during her final top six performance, before finding out her fate alongside fellow competitor Jaymon Bob from Rockhampton.
It followed an incredible performance of Mariah Carey’s Hero on Sunday night.
The pair of impressive vocal performances were enough to win over the hearts of the audience, who voted for her all the way to the grand final.
Speaking moments after the announcement that she was in the top three, the Year 12 Corpus Christi College student said it was a “dream come true” to have made it this far.
“I was not expecting to get this far honestly, there’s so much talent and in my mind, I was like ‘if I go, then it’s okay, I’ve got this far and I’m proud of it myself’,” she said.
“But I’m in top three and I just so I feel so honoured to be top three, I’m just so, so, so grateful that Perth has backed me and that people like what I do.”
Despite Colletti’s young age, she has stunned the audience and judges alike with her mature vocals.
Colletti said she was relieved to have made it into the final three but knew she was up against some serious talent.
“I feel so relieved and also quite nervous because the talent that I’m up against is just insane,” she said.
“I’m also just grateful to have the spot where I am and if I don’t progress from there I am so happy that I’ve gotten this far.”
Colletti became the last West Australian competing in the series when fellow Perth singer John Van Beek, 19, was eliminated during the final eight round.
Colletti said it was an honour to represent the State and thanked the community for their support.
“It’s down to my school, the local cafes, everyone’s sharing and reposting and making sure that everyone’s voting, there’s signs at local grocery stores and posters everywhere,” she said.
“Everyone is so invested and it’s so incredible that they’re all behind me and it feels like an absolute honour that I can do this and people want to support me.
“I just want to say thank you for believing in me and believing that I deserve to have a chance in the top three.”
Her performances were enough to wow the judges too, with singer Amy Shark telling the young West Aussie she wished she could hear more.
“I almost wish we had more weeks, I’m lost for words as well,” she said.
“You are absolutely incredible, there’s been so many amazing performances of yours. You are unbelievable.”
Gisella will sing in the grand final alongside New South Wales’ lilysh Retallick, 17, and the Sunshine Coast’s Marshall Hamburger, 19 in a two-part finale across Sunday and Monday.