Bognor Regis singer hopes she can be Avon's winner

Kate Fletcher, of Gravits Lane, has fought off thousands of competitors, from more than 50 countries to make it through to round one of Avon Voices.

If she wins Kate will record a professionally produced album, which will be available to buy worldwide.

“I was really shocked and proud when I found out I had made it to the first round. My second cousin who lives in America is an Avon representative and as she knows I am a singer she told me to enter the competition,” said the 18-year-old.

The competition was launched in celebration of the company’s 125th anniversary, and is its first-ever global online singing talent search.

To earn her place in the competition Kate, had to upload a video of her singing to the Avon website.

“You had to pick a song from a list and perform it and then get it onto the website. I chose ‘A Thousand Miles’ by Vanessa Carlton as it is a song I love and it has beautiful lyrics,” she said.

Kate, who has dreamt about been a professional singer from early childhood, attended The Sylvia Young Theatre School and The Brits School, which has given her a wide variety of experiences.

She said: “I was seven when I started Sylvia Young’s, which was such a close-knit family environment.

“During my time there I was given so many different opportunities which really helped me flourish.

“I was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, from 2002-2004 as well as other productions. I was lucky enough to be cast as an extra in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when I was about 13.

“I have been in music videos. I have also done voice-overs for films and even foreign language tapes.”

After been discovering she was one of the 175 contenders from across the globe chosen by a panel of judges including, Black Eyed Peas’ singer Fergie, song writing legend Diane Warren and chart-topper Natasha Bedingfield, Kate was in a state of shock.

The superstar treatment began as Kate was whisked of to Paris.

“We were taken on an all expenses paid trip to Paris to record a second video. It was brilliant, we stayed in the fantastic Arc De Triomphe Hilton Hotel, and took part in a glamorous photo shoot and music video recording,” said Kate.

Kate, who is one of 12 British songstresses in the competition, planned to impress with the Aerosmith classic I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.

But the night before the recording she suffered every singer worse nightmare – the arrival of a cold.

Kate said: “It was horrible. Before I left for Paris my whole family had a cold, but I had escaped it.

“The night before the big performance I felt terrible, my mum was running around pharmacies trying to get medication.

“I woke up the next day and felt awful, but there was nothing I could do – the show must go on.

“I have had great support from people in Bognor Regis.”

Kate’s video is available for viewing and voting at www.AvonVoices.com A combination of the public and a celebrity panel will determine the result. For more details visit www.facebook.com/katefletchermusic