A Kent singer who has been wowing viewers with her powerful vocals on TV show The Voice says it has been "very intense" but feels "so blessed to be part of it".

Olivia Rossiter-Langworthy, from Maidstone, first impressed the judges with her blind audition - a feisty cover of Sail by Awolnation.

Judge Meghan Trainor was the first to swivel her chair, with Olly Murs and Will.i.am turning just before the performance finished.

The 22-year-old, whose stage name is Oli Ross, then battled Dean John-Wilson in the second round of the show, belting out an emotional rendition of Take Me To Church by Hozier - one of Olivia's favourite artists.

Blowing away the judges with her passionate voice, she was announced the winner of the battle by Meghan - her chosen mentor - which means Olivia is now through to the knockout rounds.

The Voice is a televised singing competition which sees four celebrity judges - Meghan Trainor, Tom Jones, Olly Murs and Will.i.am - select contestants solely on the sound of their voice, by being turned away from them for the initial auditions.

A prize of £100,000 and a record deal with Republic Records awaits the winner.

Olivia won the battle against Dean John-Wilson

Olivia, who grew up in Bearsted and went to Valley Park School, says she feels "so blessed to be part of such an amazing show."

She said: "When Meghan turned my main focus was still on getting through the performance, but as Olly and Will turned at the last second, I just couldn’t hold in my feelings any more and completely lost it. All of my dreams came true at that second.

"ITV have been really supportive and brilliant to all of us contestants and it’s been nothing like I expected.

"It’s very intense on our rehearsal days and the intensity picks up the further you progress in the competition. I’m just trying to savour every moment."

Speaking about the live shows, she said: "There’s always nerves before every performance, but I think that’s what makes it better, it just shows that I care.

"To get through to the lives would be an absolute dream but I’m not expecting anything, I’m just so grateful for this incredible journey I’ve been lucky enough to go on."

Born in Maidstone Hospital in 1998 and attending Thurnham and Roseacre primary schools, Olivia craved the limelight from an early age, enjoying classes at Mandy Ellen Performing Arts College in the evenings and weekends throughout her teenage years.

After finishing school, Olivia then went to study at Leeds College of Music. She applied to the Voice last year before graduating and still lives in the city.

She said: "When I applied, it was a thing I did in my final year of uni that I thought nothing of. I never ever expected to get this far and of course, it would mean the absolute world to win but this incredible experience and the inspiring musicians I have met along the way are definitely the bits I savour."

On the topic of having Meghan as a coach, she said: "She is one of the best people I’ve ever met.

"We get on like an absolute house of fire, so her coaching towards me is very authentic and I can feel how much she cares."

The Voice gets millions of views per show, so it's no surprise Olivia has already started to get recognised in the street.

She said: "I’ve been recognised a bit but not loads - I’m happier that way. It’s very flattering, but still embarrassing and a very new concept to me."

Her mother, Annette Shaw, has been supporting her throughout the show, along with Annette's husband, Ady.

She also has a 23-year-old brother, Charles, in the Royal Navy.

By the end of the battles, which continue tonight at 8.30pm, six acts will remain on each of the four teams.

These contestants, which will include Olivia, will go forward to the knockout rounds, and the live finals will follow.

Another Kent singer - Blaize China from Sheppey - has also secured herself a place in the knockouts.

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