Melanie Amaro officially has The X Factor. The 19-year-old singer from Coral Springs, FL was crowned the winner of the first season of X Factor USA, beating out 30-year-old single father Josh Krajcik. Amaro takes home a $5 million recording contract, as well as a starring role in a Pepsi commercial. Oh, and she's also got a nifty bedazzled Pepsi themed trophy to put on her mantle.
Amaro was so overwhelmed when she won that she had trouble putting her feelings into words, instead simply repeating, "Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God." Later, she became so lost in her emotions that she forgot the words to "Listen," the song that had helped to seal her victory during the previous night's Top 3 performance finale.
"My mind went blank. I was so overwhelmed. I couldn't even think. All I was saying was, 'You just won. Can you believe that? You just won?' And I've sung "Listen" so many times and my mind went blank. I could not remember the words," Amaro told USA TODAY after the show.
Amaro, who grew up in the British Virgin Islands and hid her thick accent from the X Factor cameras for much of the competition, did not have an easy road to the finale. She was initially cut by judge and mentor Simon Cowell before he realized his mistake and flew to her home in Florida to ask her to come back to the competition. Week after week, Melanie wowed the judges and America with her powerhouse vocals.
"Melanie deserves it," Krajcik told host Steve Jones after Amaro was named the winner. "She has a wonderful voice. I had such an incredible experience here. I got to be myself, sing what I want to sing, and I couldn't be happier."
Chris Rene, a recovering addict and rapper from Santa Cruz, CA, came in third place. So what does Melanie Amaro plan to do with her winnings? "We'll see what happens. That's all I can say. I'm just so thankful. I'm so thankful. Whatever happens, happens."