LIGHTING up the stage in her emerald green dress, she was the envy of her peers.
KT Starr – once a self-conscious worrier who hated the limelight – was named the Mail's 2011 Talent Trail winner.
As the newspaper's assistant editor, Jamie Macaskill, revealed the third, second and first place performers, the tension in the room was obvious.
Each one of the audience members in Hull City Hall leaned forward as it was revealed guitarist Martin Clappison, singer Summer Rozenbroek and KT Starr had won the top three places.
KT Starr, whose real name is Katie Markham, was a natural on stage who bantered with the band, joked with the crowd and walked the boards like she owned them.
But Katie has come a long way since she was named fourth in last year's competition.
The starlet, originally from Scunthorpe, was a nervous-wreck in the 2010 competition and was too self-conscious to enjoy the show.
Katie, 29, said: "Last year, I was a completely different person.
"I was four stone heavier, uncomfortable, unhappy and inexperienced.
"But since losing the weight and getting more gigs, I've grown in confidence.
"It sounds odd but the best thing about being on stage is making the audience cry – if I can get the audience feeling the emotion I'm feeling, I've done well.
"I want them to feel the way I feel when I am singing the song.
"This is all I've ever wanted to do and I've been working hard to get here."
Katie, who now lives near Cambridgeshire and tours the country singing in gigs, opened her set with As If We Never Said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard.
She then put on a passionate rendition of Adele's Someone Like You before her crescendo finale Somebody To Love by Queen.
It was this last number where her big, brassy personality shone through.
She also made the audience gasp when she held an incredibly long note at the end.
The judging panel of ten joined the audience in their astonishment.
BBC Look North presenter and judge Peter Levy said: "She gave a good performance.
"She would be a great vocalist for clubs and maybe cabaret.
"Her long note at the end was excellent."
Vocal coach, musician and fellow judge Martin Jones simply remarked in the comment box for star quality "you have it" while Mark Ritchie from The Stage magazine said she had "huge potential".
Katie said: "I've been working as a singer since I was 16 but winning Talent Trail is something I have always wanted.
"Perhaps now, I will be able to realise my dream of performing on cruise ships.
"I honestly didn't think I would win, it was a complete shock when I heard my name."
Katie's name was called last, after Martin Clappison was told he had come third while Summer was announced as second place.
Katie said: "I thought both Summer and Martin would be in the top three.
"I did my semi-final with Summer and I knew she was brilliant and was a good entry in the competition.
"Martin was equally good, all the finalists were."
Katie was given a trophy, �1,500, recording time at Element Studio and a photo shoot at Topcolour in Hessle Road.
The singer plans to spending some of the money on a holiday to Ibiza, while the rest will be used to save for a house.
In the crowd of almost 700 were Katie's friends and family, including her father Keith Markham, 60.
He said: "I thought she was absolutely brilliant.
"She was just much more professional than the rest.
"I know she will now go on to bigger and better things. Of course, that's up to her, but if she gets the right agent, she could be as good as anyone else out there today."
Unfortunately, there could only be three top places, but the remaining five acts were presented with a present and �100.
Mother and daughter duo Marie Marie's set included I Dream A Dream from Les Miserables, made famous by Susan Boyle, No more Tears (Enough Is Enough) by Donna Summer and an Italian version of Unchained Melody.
Dan Furniss started off the show with Lately By Stevie Wonder, It Better Be Tonight by Michael Buble and Highway to Hell by AC DC in which he lost his inhibitions and growled his way through the closing notes.
Lillie Kerman, 20, of east Hull, performed At Last, Make You Feel My Love and left the stage with Feelin' Good by Michael Buble.
Jessika-Mae Bennett, 16, was the youngest contestant in the final. She sang Superstition, Maybe This Time and One And Only – nailing the raw emotion which Adele had intended.
But, arguably, the most memorable performer of the night was Jacob "Sax Jax" Jackson, who had a surprise guest join him on stage.
While rumbling his fingers over his pink saxophone, performing the theme tune to The Pink Panther, the cartoon character appeared behind him, swishing his tail.
Sax Jax also performed Whole Lot of Shakin' and Try a Little Tenderness.
Working alongside all eight acts were the supporting team who held the whole production together.
Organiser Liz Hugill, husband and wife team Vicky and Dave Norman, 12-year-old singer Emily Drewry, comedian CJ Harper, dancers from Fayez Freestylerz and the house band were all given special thanks.
The audience was also reminded that by buying tickets to the show, they had helped raise money for Dove House Hospice's Love You 2 Appeal.
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