Singer Kristen Cruz has gained popularity on social media with her video clips.
The 19-year-old singer from Texas introduced herself to AGT judges, revealing that she loves posting videos of herself singing and making drinks such as matcha, coffee and protein shakes. She added that she tried to get a job at Home Depot before realising she was better off pursuing her dream of singing.
Kristen currently has 4.5 million followers on TikTok, where she has posted videos in which she sings songs by artists such as Alicia Keys, Maroon 5 and Michael Jackson. She also frequently performs Christian music on her various social media platforms.
At the audition, Kristen said she hopes to “inspire people, make them feel like they don’t need to be anyone else but themselves”, adding, “I don’t need to be the industry standard.”
During the audition, Kristen performed a cover of Everybody Loves an Outlaw’s “I See Red”, showcasing a powerful and thrilling voice that won over the judges and drew cheers from the audience.
Heidi Klum said she wanted to hear Kristen’s voice, calling her a “future star”. Sofia Vergara praised her confidence. Simon Cowell said he was surprised by her performance, calling her voice “experienced” and praising her choice of song.
