The Voice UK winner has said she plans to work “even harder” than she did during the competition as she embarks on a career in music.
Blessing Chitapa, 18, was crowned as the winner of the ITV contest on Saturday night.
She said she will release new music following her victory.
From incredible duets and a next level Coach performance, to surprise guests and a single tear… #TheVoiceUK 2020 Final had it all! 🎉https://t.co/j6iUmVseKH pic.twitter.com/r9510R5sXN
— The Voice UK (@thevoiceuk) November 15, 2020
Chitapa told the PA news agency: “I think now that I have finished the show and I have won and I have been given such a huge opportunity to be able to put music out there, it is just time to work even harder than I did on the show.
“Just to make sure that people are smiling every day, listening to music in their ears.
“We are going to be working on songs, albums. I am so excited.”
The singer was mentored by Olly Murs during the programme.
“Olly told me just after the show ended, the journey actually just started,” she said.
Chitapa, who lives in Dudley in the West Midlands and is originally from Zimbabwe, sang Robbie Williams’ Angels and James Bay’s Hold Back The River in the final.
The latter song was a duet with Murs.
She saw off competition from Jonny Brooks, who was coached by Sir Tom Jones, in the final.
Describing the moment she won, Chitapa said: “I just remember explosion around me and in my head.”
She added: “It is great to feel like I am not only representing Birmingham and Dudley, I’m representing a whole nation, so it is amazing.”
Discussing her performance with Murs, she said: “It was great just to share the stage with Olly.
“I think our voices blended so well, which I didn’t expect because me and Olly are two different singers.”
The young singer had to keep her victory under wraps from all but her close family until the pre-recorded final aired on television.
Chitapa was chosen as the victor following a vote by the programme’s virtual audience.
She said she had to keep a “neutral” face when people asked her how the programme went.
There was a long break in filming of the series this year because of coronavirus.
However the programme returned to television screens in October following a seven-month break.