Fifteen-year-old Marlisa Punzalan won X Factor Australia
on Monday night, beating two others in the grand final of the reality
competition that saw some of Australia's best singers battling it out for the
grand prize.
She is the youngest singer to win Australia's reality
talent competition on 20/10/2014. Punzalan, 15, was born in Western Sydney to
Filipino parents and first wowed the judges when she sang The Beatle's
'Yesterday' in her audition.
On announcement night, Punzalan and competitors Dean Ray
and Brothers 3 were narrowed down to the top 2, with Ray sharing the last two
spots with her. Punzalan sang Australian singer Sia's 'Titanium' before being
announced as the show's winner. She takes home the grand prize and a recording
contract with Sony Music Australia. Punzalan's win comes just months after Rose
Fostanes, a Filipina domestic worker, won X Factor Israel in January.