We hope we’ll see plenty more of Mara Justine Platt, the then-16-year-old who won fans around the world during Season 16 of “American Idol.”
She ultimately didn’t make the cut, but for this talented young lady, that’s just a bump in the road. The world got its first glimpse of her raw talent in 2014 when she was just 11 years old!
Think about that. At that age, most kids are slowly (and awkwardly) making the transition to adolescence, and there Mara was, with the poise and presence to sing before a national audience.
YouTube
Mara reached the semifinals as a contestant on Season 9 of “America’s Got Talent.” She sang “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” made famous by Jennifer Hudson, and by the time she finished, all four judges were on their feet.
YouTube
Heidi Klum summed up the performance perfectly, saying Mara is “absolutely incredible.”
What I loved was that when you came on to the stage, you seemed like such a humble girl. All of a sudden, when the music started and you started singing, you just turned into this other person. It was incredible.
Howard Stern, Mel B, and Howie Mandel enthusiastically joined Heidi in voting to send Mara to Judgment Week, where she reached the finals.
YouTube
“And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” was just a teaser for what would come in the years to follow, and serves as a great reminder that no matter how many tears and how much sweat we shed along the way, it’s always worth it when we’re pursuing our dreams.
Facebook
Click to hear this 11-year-old sing her heart out, and remember to share to spread more inspiration.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.