 | | Niajai |
The winners, 22 year old Burnage local Niajai (aka Davinia Sempha) and Melody (aka Anneka Johnson), a 21 year old former Hulme resident, are both understandably excited about winning the result, having beaten the rest of the finalists, who ranged from opera singers to rappers, at the Opera House on Friday 3 June. | "This was my first competition. I was really shy and I just never have entered any." | | Niajai on how she struck lucky first time |
It’s came as a big shock to Niajai. She says that after years of singing in choirs, she only actually realised that she had talent when she won, and that "up until then it was just a hobby."
 | | Rio Ferdinand |
She was daunted by the toughness of the competition. "Melody's a prime example. She’s fantastic. There were loads of people there and it was really close. That’s why they picked two winners!" It was the attraction of Rio Ferdinand's involvement that got Niajai to enter. "This was my first competition. I was really shy and I just never have entered any."
 | | Melody |
It wasn't so for Melody, though, as she says she'd have entered the competition whether Rio Ferdinand was involved or not. Having sung since she was five, she’s been brought up around music, though her initial shyness stopped her letting loose her vocal talents in front of people. That timidity has melted away now, and she’s looking forward to the future, saying that she hopes she'll "get into the studio and try and get down some of my own stuff down." As for how it will change their lives, Niajai in particular is keeping her feet on the ground. She says she isn't about to give up her day job, where she's training to be a nurse. "I'm still going to be doing that at the same time. People in America do it all the time. Sports athletes, they do their sports and their careers." Whether either of them will have the time for second careers remains to be seen, but with Rio’s backing and their undoubted talents, chances are that their current employers will have to look for someone to fill their posts soon. | 
