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'Fat' girl wins Pop Idol
22/12/2003 07:44 - (SA)
London - A plump 23-year-old brunette who admits that she doesn't conform to the usual image of a music star on Saturday won the final of Britain's Pop Idol television talent contest.
Michelle McManus scooped top place - and instant celebrity - after 20 000 contestants were whittled down over months in a competition which has been compulsive viewing for households across Britain, including that of Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Over 10 million members of the public voted to choose the winner of Saturday's show, according to producers of the programme, screened on the independent ITV television network.
Michelle, who weighs 95kg, but has been determined that her size would not hold her back, broke down in tears after winning over the audience and beating rival Mark Rhodes, 22.
She said: "I just want to say thanks - and to everyone who said I couldn't do it, I've done it."
Michelle, dubbed by the media "The Big Girl with the Big Voice", then sang All This Time, which will be released as single on January 5.
Bookmaker Ladbrokes admitted it had taken "a hammering" and said a number of people would be collecting big winnings after placing bets on Michelle, who is from Glasgow in Scotland, to take the title at odds of 33/1 earlier in the competition.
- AFP
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South Africa
