15-year-old Amanda Mena was raised in the Dominican Republic until the age of four. That is when her parents came to The United States and Amanda didn’t know a bit of English. Because of her language barrier, this sweet girl was bullied and teased at school. It was a tough season of her life, but Amanda turned to music to help deal with her emotions.
Now, she’s hoping to turn that passion for music into a reality as she auditions on the big stage for America’s Got Talent. Even though she was a little nervous. Amanda was ready to impress the judges with her rendition of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Natural Woman.’ This teen may be young but her voice is well beyond her years. And she looked perfectly comfortable on the stage during the entire performance.
Even Simon commented, “This is an audition that we’re going to remember for a long time.” But it was Mel B that really left the lasting impression. She said, “I’ve got all goose pimples all over. That was just crazy. I love you. I love your voice.” And then this fiery judge decided to send a message to all of those bullies from Amanda’s past by pressing the coveted golden buzzer.
This means that Amanda will move straight to the live shows. It was truly a worthy performance and I’m so glad that everyone loves and appreciates this talented teen. I can’t wait to see the amazing song that she performs next. What about you?