Britain's Got Talent's teen given 'quickest golden buzzer ever' as secret TV past unveiled
The teen wowed the Britain's Got Talent judges with her incredible vocals and received the Golden Buzzer from Bruno Tonioli.
Britain's Got Talent has had its share of showstoppers, but teen Maya Giotea outdid them all, smashing records with the "quickest Golden Buzzer in BGT history" - a feat so impressive that fans might not be surprised to learn this isn't her first televised performance.
14-year-old Romanian auditionee Maya, who introduced herself as a 'schoolgirl' by day, quickly won over the audience both in the studio and those watching on ITV at home.
She shared that her parents were present, prompting the cameras to capture their emotional state, tears already streaming down their faces.
"This has been a big dream for such a long time, and I'm here. I'm here!" Maya excitedly professed, earning some encouraging words from judge Alesha Dixon, who said: "Well listen, you look excited and raring to go so we wish you the best of luck."
Alesha further pointed out Maya's daring song choice, saying she had "picked one of the hardest songs to sing in the world", before Maya unleashed her breathtaking rendition of Listen, famously performed by Beyoncé in Dreamgirls.
From the outset, Maya encapsulated the theatre with her powerful vocals, leaving the audience entranced and setting the stage for what was to come, reports the Mirror.
Without waiting for the backing track to stop, Bruno Tonioli found himself compelled to press the Golden Buzzer, immediately securing Maya's place in the semi-finals amidst thunderous applause.
Overcome with emotion following the standing ovation and the support of the crowd, Maya was visibly moved, crouching on stage and obscuring her face with her hands. The moment continued to soar as Bruno, of Strictly Come Dancing fame, hastened to embrace the talented young star.
"This was the most mature, accomplished version of this song that I've heard from someone so young. The depth of tone, the feeling was totally real. You killed it," he lauded.
Following Alesha's words of praise, KSI chimed in: "With confidence like that, you just blew me and everyone here away, honestly."
Standing as the final judge to deliver her thoughts, Amanda Holden gushed: "From the minute you walked on stage, I just knew it. Your parents must be super proud of you at this moment."
Seizing a poetic moment, she advised: "Grab some of that golden dust and put it in your pockets because you are not going to forget this moment." She later added: "That must be the quickest Golden Buzzer in BGT history."
Maya's onstage poise might come as no surprise given her previous experiences on the Got Talent series, including an acclaimed performance on Romania's Got Talent last year. At the age of 13, Maya earned a standing ovation for singing Whitney Houston's iconic I Have Nothing, with further appearances noted on her Facebook profile in various other talent showcases.
An X user, previously known to us as Twitter, spotted the returning talent and expressed their delight saying: "Mia Giotea is the sort of act that deserves a golden buzzer. I am delighted for her. I remember seeing her singing Whitney Houston's I Have Nothing on Romania's Got Talent. Outstanding."
Britain's Got Talent returns next Saturday at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.