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X Factor USA 2011 Final

December 23, 2011 by · Comments Off on X Factor USA 2011 Final 

X Factor USA 2011 FinalX Factor USA 2011 Final, Melanie Amaro has The X Factor. The powerful 19-year-old vocalist from Sunrise, Fla., won the Fox talent competition Thursday over soulful 30-year-old singer Josh Krajcik of Wooster, Ohio.

Amaro, who was mentored by judge Simon Cowell and was at one point eliminated then reinstated to the contest, was awarded the grand prize: a $5 million US recording contract and a starring role in a Pepsi commercial.

“Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God,” Amaro repeated after host Steve Jones announced her as the champion.

Despite continued prodding from Jones, an overly emotional Amaro couldn’t quite formulate words when she was revealed to have captured the most viewer votes, and she struggled through tears to reprise BeyoncĂ©’s Listen, the soaring ballad that Amaro crooned at her audition and on Wednesday’s final performance round.

“I want to say, ‘America, thank you for giving this girl an opportunity,”‘ said Cowell.

Krajcik, the struggling single father who delivered a stripped down rendition of At Last for his final routine, seemed content with his status as X Factor runner-up to Amaro, who was born in the British Virgin Islands.

“Melanie deserves it,” Krajcik said. “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.”

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