Sydnie Christmas' 'extremely proud' family reveal Britain's Got Talent win is dream come true for the singer who has performed since she was a little girl and 'worked all of her life to get where she is'
The family of Britain's Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas have told of their pride that her life-long dream of singing in the West End has finally come true.
Sydnie, 28, swept the board with her heart-moving rendition of 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' at the nail-biting finish of last night's show.
And today, her youngest sister Rhoni told how the hard-fought victory had been the culmination of Sydnie's life work.
Speaking at the family's home in rural Kent, Rhoni, 25, told MailOnline: 'I could not even put into words how we are feeling as a family. Sydnie has worked all of her life to get where she is and she deserves it more than anything. We are extremely proud of her.
'Sydnie has been performing from a very young age. Since I was a little girl, it was all that she has done. She has been singing around the house all of my life.
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'The songs that I remember her singing all the time was from the film 'Little Mermaid', was it 'Part Of This World'?'
Rhoni revealed how the family had had special 'Vote For Sydnie' t-shirts printed and had urged their neighbours in the village of Meopham to support the 'local girl' in a banner.
Today her grandmother, Breda Lye, 82, was still wearing hers, the night after Sydnie's historic win.
Sydnie was not at home today – or at work at the local gym where she is a receptionist.
Instead she was enjoying the limelight following her dramatic win last night.
Rhoni said: 'Sydnie's not here. She is up London, doing interviews.' Her proud parents, Mark and Jan, are believed to be with her.
Four generations of the Christmas family – Sydnie, her parents, her grandmother, her sister and her nephew - live in a sprawling five-bedroom house with a huge garden, situated in a private road with thick woodland on the edge of Meopham.
Sydnie grew up in Kent and played rugby as a child but her only dream was to sing in a West End show.
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After winning Britain's Got Talent some might imagine that Sydnie would pull out all the stops to celebrate the biggest night of her life.
However, the singer stuck true to her humble roots and went on a night out with friends at her local Wetherspoons.
Sydnie had insisted that if she won the £250,000 prize she would be returning to work this morning - joking previously that she has 'rent to pay'.
Her performance on Sunday night - dubbed the best the show has ever seen by head judge Simon Cowell - and throughout the series has captured hearts across Britain, and now it looks like she'll be able to have a crack at her dream of working full time on the West End.
As a result of her victory Sydnie has sealed a coveted place at the Royal Variety Performance, meaning she could perform in front of the likes of King Charles and Prince William - a far cry from the cruise ships she used to sing on.
It seems unlikely that Sydnie will forget her humble beginnings and the hard work she put in to beat ten other outstanding acts with her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow after a jam-packed episode.
After winning last night the overwhelmed star broke down as she said: 'I don't know what to say! I cannot believe the amount of love I've felt since it aired. It's absolutely - oh my god. I am overwhelmed with love and I wish for one day that everyone feels the way I do. It's amazing, thank you so much.'
She was the favourite to take the top spot ahead of the final after winning her semi-final heat with her rendition of Frank Sinatra's My Way that wowed judges.
After her performance on Sunday's final judge Amanda said: 'I know how long you have waited for this moment, it was utterly spellbinding and perfect in every way. It was just gold dust.'
Fellow judge Bruno added: 'That is what I call a show-stopping performance, you took my breath away!', while Alesha said: 'You just radiate hope and joy and light - and there was something about that performance and that emotion, I felt it move through my body with you.'
Simon then commented: 'That was really something special. That lyric felt so personal to you about what you must have wanted over the years with a God-given talent like that and for whatever reason you've been ignored. I actually felt very emotional.'
Sydnie has dreamt of being able to work full time on the West End and is hopeful that BGT will be a stepping stone to make that dream a reality.
'In a year's time, I hope I'm living my dream. I want to be doing what I love for a living instead of rolling towels and making shakes!'
Before her BGT audition, Sydnie was considering turning her back on her dreams.
Speaking to The Mirror, Sydnie said: 'If you'd have told me on New Year's Eve that this would be happening in my life five months later, I would have told you something. So I'm very happy and a very lucky girl.
'I've done loads of auditions to get into the West End. It's always knock backs, always that you don't fit.
'All my mates have got babies and getting married. I'm still trying to afford rent in London! So I thought in my head because nothing was happening for me I'll give it one last go... and here we are today!'
Sydnie appeared in the E4 programme Stage School which ran for two seasons in 2016 and 2017 showcasing the real struggles for students studying performing arts.
The show followed an array of situations ranging from romantic fallouts to stage dramas.
Sydnie has had lots of family support during the process with her grandmothers watching her first audition at the Palladium.
And her long term boyfriend, a fellow musical actor, Max Rizzo from Sciliy.
Max is currently signed by an agency who specialise in rising stars.
She has performed professionally but is still waiting for her West End debut.
The golden buzzer recipient did face some controversy at the start of the audition process as many fans accused the show for being fixed once viewers realised Sydnie already had a musical career.
Sydnie has worked on cruise ships including the Royal Caribbean International, where she starred as Rizzo in the musical Grease.
She made her debut in London as one of the lead voices in Lazarus, featuring the music of David Bowie, at the King's Cross Theatre and shared a snap backstage of Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson after he attended the show.
She then went on to appear in a German production of Starlight Express in 2019 as Belle the Bar Car.
Sydnie won the third live semi-final show on Wednesday after receiving a standing ovation from the whole of the audience after singing her version of Frank Sinatra's My Way.
Judge Amanda Holden was bought to tears, while Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon were in utter awe of her talent.
Revealing just how nervous she was she admitted: 'My voice coach had to walk me on to the stage because I was so nervous. I'm very happy it didn't look that way because I was terrified.'
After her performance, all four judges were quickly up on their feet to applaud Sydnie.
Amanda said: 'I have to sit down, I thought I was going to pass out during that. Honestly, Sydnie when we saw your audition I had so many people come up and stop me.
'And tonight you have done even better, I just cannot believe your capacity and your fire and your strength.'
She's not only a fan favourite but also a favourite amongst the judges.
At a press event both Simon Cowell and Amanda they thought Sydnie had what it takes to win it all.
When asked who would win the show Cowell told reporters: 'I think it's Sydnie, yeah.'
'It feels like a distant memory now,' Sydnie told the Mail. 'I auditioned in January. I feel like my neck has been in my mouth ever since.
'I have wanted to do this for ever. To be on stage, entertain, perform and sing. I went on Britain's Got Talent in the hope that if I was to get on that I could just give it a go.
'I've been doing auditions for so many years and I thought, I haven't got a lot to lose now. I thought to myself, s*d it, let's give it a go, and then everything went so well, which I didn't expect at all.'
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