When eleven-year-old Asanda Jezile walked onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage in 2013, she already knew exactly what kind of performer she wanted to be.
She described herself as a little bit of a diva and spoke openly about how much she loved singing and performing.
Then the music started.
Asanda launched into Rihanna’s “Diamonds” and immediately showed the judges that she was not simply a young singer hoping for a chance.
She had confidence.
She had stage presence.
And she knew how to perform.
By the time the song ended, all four judges had given her a yes, sending the eleven-year-old through to the next stage of the competition.
A Young Singer With Big Ambitions
Asanda Jezile was eleven years old and from Thamesmead, London when she appeared on Britain’s Got Talent Series 7 in 2013.
She had already developed a strong interest in music and was inspired by major performers including Beyoncé and Rihanna. ITV later described Asanda as someone who felt “magic” when she was singing and who enjoyed adding movement to her performances.
That confidence was obvious from the beginning.
Asanda didn’t walk onto the BGT stage looking overwhelmed by the size of the opportunity.
Instead, she appeared ready to perform.
Her song choice made that even clearer.
She Chose Rihanna’s “Diamonds”
Asanda decided to perform “Diamonds,” Rihanna’s hit song.
It was an ambitious choice for an eleven-year-old because the song requires both vocal control and the ability to create an emotional connection with the audience.
But Asanda approached it with confidence.
She didn’t simply stand still and sing.
She incorporated movement and performance into the audition, showing the judges that she understood that being an entertainer involves more than just having a good voice.
As the performance continued, it became increasingly clear that Asanda had the kind of stage presence that can make a young performer stand out.
The Judges Were Impressed
The reaction from the judging panel was extremely positive.
Alesha Dixon was particularly impressed by Asanda’s performance. She praised her voice and stage ability, telling the young singer that she was like “a little diamond.”
Amanda Holden also highlighted Asanda’s performance style and the way she used her expressions and movements on stage.
Simon Cowell focused on another important quality: stage presence.
For Simon, Asanda’s ability to command the stage at such a young age was a major part of what made the audition work.
David Walliams also praised the performance, completing a unanimous reaction from the panel.
The message from the judges was clear.
Asanda wasn’t being praised simply because she was eleven.
She was being recognized as a performer.
Four Yes Votes
When Asanda finished singing, she had accomplished exactly what she had hoped to do.
All four judges voted yes.
That meant Asanda had successfully passed her audition and could continue her Britain’s Got Talent journey.
The moment was especially significant because the competition featured thousands of hopeful performers, with only a fraction eventually making it through to the live stages.
Asanda had taken the first major step.
But her journey was about to become even bigger.
From Audition to the Grand Final
Asanda did not simply pass the auditions and disappear from the competition.
She went on to reach the live semi-finals and eventually secured a place in the grand final.
During the semi-finals, she performed Beyoncé’s “Halo.” Her performance earned enough support to put her through to the final, with Asanda winning the judges’ vote over Alex Keirl by three votes to one after the public vote placed her among the top three acts.
That meant the eleven-year-old singer had gone from an audition performance of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” to competing on the biggest stage of the series.
ITV listed Asanda among the finalists alongside acts including Richard & Adam, Attraction, Luminites and other standout performers from the 2013 series.
Her Final Performance
Asanda returned for the grand final and performed “If I Were a Boy” by Beyoncé.
ITV reported that the eleven-year-old impressed the judges during the final as the competition reached its climax.
Although she did not win the series, reaching the grand final was a major achievement for a performer who had entered the competition at only eleven years old.
Her journey demonstrated that her audition wasn’t simply a one-time surprise.
She had the ability to continue performing under increasing pressure.
Why the “Diamonds” Audition Stands Out
There are many young singers who have appeared on Britain’s Got Talent.
What made Asanda’s audition memorable was the combination of voice, confidence and stage presence.
She didn’t treat the stage like a school performance.
She treated it like a professional stage.
Her choice of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” gave her the opportunity to demonstrate both her vocal ability and her personality.
And she clearly enjoyed performing.
That enjoyment came through in the way she moved, smiled and interacted with the music.
The judges noticed it immediately.
Full Performance Information
The supplied video is published by the verified Britain’s Got Talent YouTube channel and features Asanda Jezile’s 2013 audition. The official video description confirms that she performed Rihanna’s “Diamonds” and received four yes votes from the judges.
Asanda was eleven years old at the time and was auditioning during Week Three of the 2013 series.
Watch the full performance here:
The performance is worth watching from the beginning because Asanda’s confidence becomes clear before she has even reached the biggest moments of the song.
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- Unforgettable Britain’s Got Talent auditions from 2013
Final Thoughts
Asanda Jezile stepped onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage at just eleven years old.
She chose one of Rihanna’s biggest songs, “Diamonds,” and delivered it with the confidence of a performer who already understood the importance of stage presence.
The judges noticed.
Alesha Dixon praised her as a little diamond, Simon Cowell highlighted her remarkable stage presence, and all four judges ultimately said yes.
But the audition was only the beginning.
Asanda went on to reach the live semi-finals and then the grand final, proving that her first performance was more than a memorable audition.
It was the start of a remarkable BGT journey.
At eleven years old, Asanda Jezile stepped onto the stage hoping for her chance.
She left that audition with four yes votes — and a place among the finalists of Britain’s Got Talent 2013.
