20 January 2010
University student crowned winner of China´s X Factor
A talented student at the University of Sheffield has become a pop sensation in China after scooping the top spot in an X-Factor style contest.
Student Mary-Jess Leaverland, 19, impressed more than 70 million fans to win the country´s version of the X Factor, during her one year stint in the Jiangsu province as part of her Music and China degree at the University.
Mary-Jess, who is fluent in Mandarin, was asked to take part in the competition Min Xing Chang Fan Tian - I want to sing to the stars - after winning a singing competition soon after she arrived in China last September.
After beating off competition from five rivals in the final, Mary-Jess, who wowed the judges with her rendition of Moonlight Lovers from hit film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, went on to snap up a £1,000 prize.
The gifted student, who was the only foreign contestant in the finals, sang a medley of opera and pop songs in the heats preceding the live show, including songs in Mandarin and her version of Puccini´s aria O Mio Babbino Caro.
The series follows a similar format to the X Factor and Britain´s Got Talent and features a judging panel of three experts including local record executives and songwriters.
Mary-Jess Leaverland said: "I´m shocked to have won as it´s a big competition and the other contestants were really good with quite a broad spectrum of talent taking part.
"My dream is to be a recording artist and if that´s a possibility in the future, I would grab it with both hands."
Dr Lucy Zhao, lecturer in the School of East Asian Studies, said: "Mary-Jess has a real talent for both languages and music. It is not easy to win a competition at such a level and I am really proud of her. "
Notes for Editors: For more information on the School of East Asian Studies, visit the link below.
For further information please contact: Shemina Davis, Media Relations Officer, on 0114 2225339 or email shemina.davis@sheffield.ac.uk
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