Singing sensation Chelsea gears up for final of Open Mic UK

And, seven years on, Chelsea Lane’s amazing vocal talent has certainly shone through.

Now the 17-year-old has made it through to the final of Open Mic UK, a prestigious talent-spotting contest that has discovered the likes of X-Factor stars Luke Friend and Lucy Spraggan, along with pop star Birdy.

Around 9,000 people entered the competition and Chelsea has gone through three rounds to make to the grand final at the NEC in Birmingham on January 23.

‘I’m really excited,’ said Chelsea, who lives in Linkenholt Way, Leigh Park, and is a music student at South Downs College.

‘I can’t wait to perform my original song.

‘It’s about how to get yourself up when you are being pushed down.’

Chelsea’s voice was first spotted while on holiday at Butlins in Bognor and since then she took the lead role as Sandi in a Grease production at Park Community School.

But in recent years she has moved away from musical theatre and become a massive fan of country pop.

Her favourite singers are Dolly Parton and Carrie Underwood and she writes her own music.

She records her music at the prestigious River Studios in Southampton, where Craig David has recorded.

When she’s not recording, Chelsea dresses up as Elsa from Disney’s Frozen and performs at local birthday parties and events.

‘I love performing,’ she says. ‘I just like it all.

‘I love performing a song that means something to me and I’m going to be doing that at Open Mic.’

In her young life, Chelsea has already been to America twice to perform and took part in a charity video to raise money for cancer research.

Her stepdad Shaun Wilson, 34, said: ‘From when she was little you could hear the power starting to come through.

‘Her voice is maturing now.’

He said he was ‘very proud’ of her accomplishments, but that the grand final would be a nerve-wrecking experience for the family in the audience.

‘It would be amazing to win it,’ added Chelsea. It would mean so much.’