In 2013, an 11-year-old singer named Asanda Jezile walked onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage with a very clear goal: to show the judges what she could do.
Her song choice was Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” and she delivered the performance with confidence, vocals, and plenty of stage presence.
The official Britain’s Got Talent video describes Asanda as an 11-year-old diva and confirms that her polished performance impressed all four judges, earning four yeses and sending her through to the next stage.
A Young Singer With Big Ambitions
Asanda Jezile was only 11 when she auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent.
According to ITV News coverage from the 2013 competition, Asanda was from Thamesmead, London, and described herself as “a little bit of a diva.” She also said she was inspired by major performers including Beyoncé and Rihanna.
That confidence was easy to see once she stepped onto the stage.
Rather than delivering a quiet audition, Asanda brought a strong performance style to the BGT stage.
Taking on Rihanna’s “Diamonds”
For her audition, Asanda chose Rihanna’s hit song “Diamonds.”
It was an ambitious choice for an 11-year-old performer, but she approached it with confidence and a polished stage presentation.
The official BGT description specifically highlights her performance as a polished Rihanna cover and notes that all four judges approved her audition.
Alesha Dixon was particularly impressed, telling Asanda that she was “like a little diamond.” Contemporary coverage also reported that Simon Cowell praised her stage presence for an 11-year-old.
The Judges Say Yes
By the end of the audition, Asanda had earned four yes votes.
That meant she successfully moved forward in the competition.
The response from the judges focused not only on her singing but also on her confidence and stage presence. ITV News later described her as an 11-year-old singer who combined her voice with energetic movement on stage.
For such a young performer, getting four yeses represented an important moment in her BGT journey.
But her audition was only the beginning.
Asanda Returned for the Semi-Finals
After making it through the auditions, Asanda continued her run in the competition.
For the semi-finals, she changed direction and performed Beyoncé’s “Halo.” ITV News reported that Simon Cowell said she had the “wow factor” following the performance.
Her semi-final performance helped take her even further.
ITV News confirmed that Asanda reached the grand final after winning the judges’ vote for second place in the fourth semi-final.
That meant the 11-year-old singer had gone from an audition performance of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” all the way to the BGT final.
From “Diamonds” to the BGT Final
Asanda’s journey continued into the 2013 grand final, where she performed Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy.”
Contemporary coverage reported that her “Diamonds” audition had impressed the judges, while her performance of “Halo” had secured her place in the final.
ITV’s official finalist list also included Asanda among the 2013 finalists.
Her BGT journey therefore included three major performances:
- Rihanna’s “Diamonds” in the audition
- Beyoncé’s “Halo” in the semi-final
- Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy” in the final
Each performance showed a different side of the young singer.
Why Her Audition Remains Memorable
Asanda’s audition stands out because of the combination of her age, song choice, vocals, and stage confidence.
She was only 11, yet she approached the BGT stage with the attitude of a much more experienced performer.
Her audition also became one of the widely viewed BGT performances online. The London Evening Standard later included Asanda’s 2013 audition among the most-watched Britain’s Got Talent auditions, reporting tens of millions of YouTube views at the time of its article.
That lasting online attention helped keep the performance familiar to BGT fans years after the original broadcast.
A Young Performer Who Made It to the Final
Asanda Jezile’s BGT story did not end with her “Diamonds” audition.
She continued through the competition, reached the semi-finals, and ultimately made it to the grand final.
Her journey is a good example of how a single audition can become the beginning of a much larger talent-show story.
At just 11 years old, she had already demonstrated the confidence to stand on one of the UK’s biggest entertainment stages and perform in front of the BGT judges and audience.
Final Thoughts
Asanda Jezile’s performance of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” remains a memorable Britain’s Got Talent audition.
At just 11 years old, she delivered a confident performance, impressed all four judges, and earned four yeses.
But the audition was only the beginning.
Asanda went on to perform Beyoncé’s “Halo” in the semi-finals and reach the 2013 grand final.
For BGT fans discovering the clip years later, her “Diamonds” audition offers a fascinating look back at a very young performer who stepped onto the stage with big ambitions—and made it all the way to the final.
