If you’re an avid watcher of America’s Got Talent, you probably remember a young ukulele-playing girl with bangs who stole the show.
In 2016, this talented girl, who was only 12 years old at the time, stepped onto the AGT stage to perform an original song titled “I Don’t Know My Name.” Her performance impressed the judges significantly, with Howie Mandel hitting the Golden Buzzer for her. Even Simon Cowell, known for his critical eye, said she could be “the next Taylor Swift.”
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That girl was Grace VanderWaal.
Throughout Season 11 of AGT, Grace continued to captivate fans, and she eventually went on to win the competition. At just 12, she became one of the youngest winners in AGT history.
Relive Grace’s AGT audition in the video below.
So, what is Grace up to now?
After winning the show, Grace got busy with all sorts of new projects. She released her debut EP, Perfectly Imperfect, in December 2016, followed by a full-length album, Just The Beginning, in November 2017. In 2020, Grace branched out into acting, starring in the Disney+ movie Stargirl.
Fast forward to 2024, nearly eight years after her AGT win, Grace, now 20 years old, has shared a rare glimpse into her life.
Earlier this month, Grace made an unexpected appearance in one of TikToker David Carmi’s “Confidence Heist” videos. In these videos, Carmi goes around asking New Yorkers about their secrets to being confident. And one day, he just happened to run into Grace.
After realizing who Carmi was, Grace said, “Oh my god, you’re the TikTok guy. I see you all the time!”
During the impromptu interview, Grace shared that her secret to looking confident is actually just “having somewhere to go.” According to her, people in New York are always “in a rush,” which is what makes them look confident. Grace mentioned that her hectic days usually involve a shopping spree and dinner plans.
She also took a minute to reflect on how growing up in the public eye affected her, saying:
“I honestly felt like it helped me as a person because it threw me into scrutiny, and just kinda forced me [to] sink or swim.”
Grace advised viewers to “accept who you are” and embrace “your strengths” to build confidence. We couldn’t agree more! Watch the full interview below.