Natalie Okri, who wowed Britain's Got Talent judges in 2009 at just 10 years old, is now unrecognisable 17 years later. Her rendition of Alicia Keys' 'No One' silenced the panel and brought the audience to its feet, becoming one of the most-viewed auditions in the show's history with over 130 million YouTube views.
Okri advanced to the semi-finals of the third series but was eliminated after singing Jamelia's 'Superstar'. She faced stiff competition from eventual winner Susan Boyle and dance group Diversity. Shortly after her appearance, Simon Cowell's label Syco Entertainment signed her in 2010, but she left in 2012 to focus on her education.
Now 27, Okri has returned to music, performing and producing while building a following on Instagram and TikTok. She has also featured regularly on BBC 1Xtra radio. Recently, she shared a video of herself singing the same Alicia Keys song that made her famous, captioning it: 'POV: I sang this song on BGT when I was 10 years old and got 127million views on YouTube... Now I'm singing it at 25.'
Fans and celebrities alike reacted warmly, with former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Saffron Barker calling it 'my favourite audition of all time'. Others expressed nostalgia, with one writing: 'I watched your audition on repeat at 10.'
Beyond music, Okri recently married husband Shola Elijah, sharing photos on Instagram with the caption: 'You're looking at your newest Nigerian Bride and Groom. Here's to the most Holy Love.'
