Fifteen-year-old Amanda Mena from Boston, Massachusetts, came to the stage not just as a singer, but as a young woman who had endured a difficult past. She revealed that she was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the US at age four, where she struggled because she didn’t know English. She confessed that she was “bullied a lot” for not looking like everybody else and for being unable to speak the language, with some people even telling her to “get out.” This painful experience, however, gave her “tough skin” and connected her deeply to music, which became her main escape and source of comfort, alongside the encouragement of her mother.
Amanda chose to sing the classic soul anthem “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin. The moment she began, her powerful, mature, and naturally soulful voice filled the auditorium, completely captivating the judges. She performed with a confidence and emotional depth far beyond her 15 years, transforming the pain of her past into pure vocal power. The judges were instantly won over by her genuine talent and spirit, with Simon Cowell praising her for having “genuinely natural soul” and declaring that her audition would be remembered for a long time.
The performance culminated in an electrifying moment of support. Judge Mel B was so profoundly moved by Amanda’s story and her incredible voice that she used her Golden Buzzer. Before slamming it, Mel B addressed Amanda’s past, shouting a direct message to her former bullies: “This is what I’m gonna say to all those bullies: Yes!” The golden confetti rained down on Amanda, turning her past pain into a spectacular and emotional victory that secured her spot in the live shows and earned her a well-deserved hug from the Spice Girl herself.
