Lisa Punch performs a dramatic piece

Though she was not selected after her first showing, Lisa still believed she was good enough to be there particularly when judge Neaz Subhan commented that she had punched him with her performance. But she left that day feeling a failure because another person who used up the stage well was selected ahead of her.

How did she handle it? Lisa cried like a baby. Then she prayed and prayed until it became clear to her that it was not end of the world. It might have been the end of her trip to Star Guyana but certainly she would go on to do other things in life. Just when she least expected it she got a call saying they wanted her to come back.

The Lisa who returned was more explosive. She wore a killer red dress which she referred to as her secret weapon and she hit all the right notes when she performed Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You". That day she gyrated to a dance routine that was fresh and different which combined African and Indian rhythms.

After that it was the clear Lisa was back with a bang. She knew it and the persons following the competition knew it also. The name Lisa Punch started coming up in conversations.

But there was mention of the name Travis Bowen as well. He was another front runner who eventually placed second to Lisa. She said that of all the competitors she felt Travis was the one to watch. But though she would look at how the others were performing from time to time Lisa said that was not her focus. She concentrated on just entertaining.

When the Star Guyana semi-final was held Lisa Punch shone once more. The young woman emerged winner of that round to go into the finals as the top competitor. Lisa was excited about that. Still she never working and staying up late at night practising.

Lisa said she fasted and prayed a lot on the day of the final which was January 1. When her name was called to perform, the teen said, she walked onto the stage praying silently then belted out Whitney Houston's classic "I Will Always Love You".

"I knew that I had gotten the notes including the high ones that were giving me trouble before, but I could not believe how people reacted when I was done," Lisa said with a smile.

What actually happened was that the crowd at the National Cultural Centre went wild. Lisa just blew everyone away. Up to the time of this interview, Lisa was still living in that particular moment.

She said winning the competition was an overwhelming experience. In fact she has not been able to shake the feeling of excitement. People are meeting and greeting her all the time.

At her school, North Georgetown Secondary, the children embrace her as their own celebrity. Posters of her which were printed during the competition are at the school and her schoolmates are all excited for her.

Lisa won US$1500 ($300,000) which is quite a sum for someone her age. She said most of the money has been put away in an account which she is not allowed to touch until she is 18 years. As for the remainder, she gave some to her church, she bought herself a nice ring, she purchased some textbooks and she is planning to take her family to dinner somewhere nice.

Lisa Punch is the oldest of five children. She said her other siblings are into other things, though a younger brother is now showing a greater interest in singing.

She has been singing since she was nine years old, but got serious about it when she turned 11 years. She said she would sing at church and then she started singing on a few local television programmes. She participated in the local show Talent Exclusive and won the category she had entered in.

But Star Guyana is the biggest thing she has ever been a part of. Lisa said she is so grateful to the organisers and everyone who was involved because they gave her an opportunity. She said the advice of the judges though harsh sometimes was very helpful and when she put into practice what they were saying she started seeing better results.

In addition to her natural talent Lisa said she received a good foundation at North Georgetown Secondary School which prepared her for Star Guyana. She is part of the school's drama club, she is in dancing and she also does physical display. She said her teacher Ms. Beverly Spencer has been like a rock and that she taught her a great deal.

After she writes the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Certificate (CSEC) which is in another two years Lisa plans to pursue singing. She also has intentions to study law. She said balancing a career in law and singing is not going to be so difficult because she has a love for both.

There is something about Lisa Punch which says we are going to hear more of her in time to come. ianaseales@yahoo.com