by Charlotte Luxford

A Maidstone girl dubbed the next Leona Lewis has fought her way to the regional semi-finals of an X Factor-style competition.

Open Mic UK, a competition broadcast live on Channel 4, invited Emily Payne to try for auditions this year, and after several rounds she performed at the Brighton Hove Centre on Saturday.

She performed well and although she just missed the final, she still has a wild card meaning she could still get through.

It has been a proud achievement for Emily, who was bullied at a previous school and has now moved to Maplesden Noakes School in Maidstone.

Her new form tutor, Mrs. Walters said: “Emily is a friendly girl who is pleasant to talk to. She has settled into her work here and all subjects seem to be very positive.”

Lisa Payne, Emily’s mother said: “She’s talented, forward-thinking and grown up for her age, which girls don’t like - she can’t help that she’s talented.

“The bullying went on for a couple of years and I had to pull her out of school in the end, as it was getting out of control."

Emily has been singing since she was seven years old and has been in several performances at the Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone, including a lead role in the show, In Search of Simba.

She has also auditioned for TV shows, Britain’s Got Talent and the Sound of Music, where she got through two rounds.

Judges of Open Mic UK included Croydon platinum-selling artist Dane Bowers and Atomic Kitten, Liz McClarnon.