When Leanne Mya walked onto the stage in January 2026, the room had no idea what was coming. Quiet, composed, and carrying years of unspoken pain, she wasn’t there for sympathy or headlines. She was there to face something bigger than fear — and to be seen on her own terms.
Leanne is a survivor of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, a night that permanently reshaped her life. Standing under the spotlight, she spoke not of herself, but of her young son, Malachi. This audition, she explained, was about teaching him courage — about showing that fear doesn’t get the final word.
Then the music started. Choosing Lay Me Down by Sam Smith, Leanne delivered a performance that felt less like singing and more like testimony. Her voice trembled, then steadied, then soared — heavy with loss, yet anchored in strength. Every note carried history. Every pause carried breath.
The reaction was instant and overwhelming. The audience rose to their feet as tears filled the room. Simon Cowell called it “a moment with a capital M,” praising Leanne’s bravery and the dignity of her tribute. Four judges. Four yeses. One standing ovation that said everything words couldn’t.
Leanne’s journey didn’t stop there. In the semi-finals, she returned with a soulful mashup of Blinded by Your Grace Parts 1 and 2 by Stormzy, backed by a gospel choir that lifted the theatre to its feet once again. It wasn’t just a performance — it was survival turned into sound, grief transformed into grace.
