Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Cameal Davis

Cameal Davis surpassed her expectations. As the judge's pick from the Ocho Rios audition, the third-time entrant made history by becoming the first woman to win the Digicel Rising Stars competition since its inception five years ago.

'The Denham Town Princess', as she is often referred to, was voted the winner last Friday beating the quintet boy group, Kahlil.

"I feel honoured because I am the first female to win the competition," she said. "I dedicate this win to all the women who have entered the competition."

Doubts

The 22-year-old singer said that she had doubts on re-entering the competition but was motivated by her mother and friends.

"I told myself that I was not going to enter again but I got motivation from my mommy and my friends," she said.

She said that this year she was, however, more prepared and entered the competition with Eva Cassidy's version of the Negro spiritual Wade In The Water. This, she believed, was a different approach and it paid off. She would be one of the judge's pick.

The almost-unnoticed Davis became a crowd favourite as the competition progressed. And, for topping the competition won $1 million; a contract to do two singles which will be produced and distributed by Greensleeves Records; a music video, a new Sony Ericsson phone with $100,000 call credit from Digicel; and, a six-month scholarship from Joy Music.

The singer is now focussed on fulfilling her obligations as the Rising Stars winner.

"For now, I will be going to the studios to do the recording that I have to do, do some collaborations and seize all opportunities that I can," she said. Davis said she would like to do collaborations with Tarrus Riley and American artistes Yolanda Adams and Ne-Yo.