When 7-year-old Eseniia Mikheeva walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2023, the judges quickly learned that her small size didn’t mean a small performance.
Eseniia came to the Season 18 audition as a young dancer and performed a hip-hop routine to “Soy Yo” by Bomba Estéreo. Her routine included energetic choreography, backflips and splits, while her expressive facial movements became another noticeable part of her performance.
👧 A 7-Year-Old Dancer Takes the AGT Stage
Eseniia Mikheeva was only seven when she auditioned for America’s Got Talent Season 18.
Before beginning her routine, she interacted with the judges, including Sofia Vergara, who immediately noticed how young and expressive she was.
But the conversation was only the beginning.
Once the music started, Eseniia switched from a cheerful young contestant to a highly energetic performer.
💃 “Soy Yo” Becomes Her Dance Stage
Eseniia performed her hip-hop routine to “Soy Yo” by Bomba Estéreo.
Her choreography combined sharp hip-hop movements with gymnastics-inspired elements. She incorporated backflips, splits and floor movements into the routine.
Her facial expressions were also an important part of the performance.
Heidi Klum specifically praised Eseniia’s dance, tricks and facial expressions, saying she was giving 100 percent.
🌟 Sofia Vergara Calls Her a “Mini-Mini Star”
After the performance, Sofia Vergara gave Eseniia a memorable compliment.
Sofia described the young dancer as a “mini-mini star already.”
The compliment captured what made Eseniia’s audition distinctive: she was extremely young, but she performed with a level of confidence and stage personality that immediately attracted attention.
😄 Even Simon Cowell Had Trouble Speaking
There was also an unusual moment during the judges’ comments.
Simon Cowell had apparently lost his voice during the audition and had to whisper his comments to Sofia Vergara, who then tried to interpret what he was saying.
It added a humorous moment to an otherwise energetic audition.
Despite the communication difficulty, Simon was part of the unanimous decision to send Eseniia through.
🎤 Four Judges Say Yes
Eseniia received four yes votes from the judges, allowing her to continue in the competition.
The audition therefore became the beginning of a longer AGT journey rather than a one-time performance.
For a seven-year-old contestant, reaching the next stage meant another opportunity to perform in front of the AGT audience.
🔥 Eseniia Returns for the Live Shows
Eseniia later reached the Season 18 semifinals.
For her qualifiers performance, she danced to a combination featuring Meghan Trainor’s “Made You Look” and Ciara’s “Level Up.”
Her later performance showed that the audition had not been a one-off moment. Dance remained the center of her AGT journey.
🌟 From Seven-Year-Old Audition to Semifinalist
Eseniia ultimately competed in the semifinals but did not advance to the finale.
Even so, her audition remains one of the recognizable young-dancer performances from Season 18.
The combination of her age, hip-hop choreography, expressive performance style and acrobatic moves made the audition easy to remember.
🎶 Why Eseniia’s Audition Stands Out
What makes Eseniia’s audition interesting is the contrast between expectation and performance.
She walked onto the stage as a seven-year-old child.
Then the music started, and she delivered a routine packed with movement and personality.
Her performance wasn’t based on complicated props or a large production. The focus stayed on her dancing, facial expressions and physical control.
That simplicity allowed her personality to become part of the act.
Final Thoughts
Eseniia Mikheeva’s America’s Got Talent audition introduced viewers to a seven-year-old dancer with a strong stage presence and an energetic hip-hop style.
Her performance of “Soy Yo” featured sharp movements, backflips, splits and expressive facial expressions. The judges responded with four yes votes, and Sofia Vergara called her a “mini-mini star.”
Eseniia later made it to the Season 18 semifinals, continuing her journey as one of the show’s young dance performers.
For viewers discovering the performance years later, the appeal is simple: she may have been only seven, but once the music started, Eseniia knew exactly how to command the stage.
