Connie Talbot is just a normal teenager ... with 710,000 YouTube subscribers
She's a famous singer with more than 700,000 subscribers and millions of hits on YouTube, but Connie Talbot still has time to read Twilight and play netball
If you gathered everyone who has ever sung Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz in one place, you'd probably have enough people to occupy Central.
These include celebrities such as Pink, Jason Mraz, Leona Lewis and Jason Castro. But no one managed to touch as many hearts as little Connie Talbot, who sang the song as a six-year-old on Britain's Got Talent, a TV talent contest in which she took second place. A YouTube clip of her performance has close to 145 million views.
By the time she was seven, Connie had been on both The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Ellen Show. Nearly 14 now, she has four albums and numerous performances under her belt. Her fifth EP, Gravity, will be released digitally tomorrow.
"What I'm proudest of this year is probably being in the studio and working on my own songs, with Kipper Eldridge the producer," Connie tells Young Post in a phone interview. It's 8am over in the UK, and she's getting ready for school. Cheerful and a bit shy, and turning 14 this Thursday, she doesn't sound like someone who's grown up in the spotlight.
"There probably are a lot of expectations, but there hasn't been much pressure," says Connie. Looking back at herself singing on Britain's Got Talent, it all seems very far away.
"I think I like to be known for my own artistry as well, you know, singing and writing my own songs and playing the guitar and the piano."
While singing is her ambition and career choice, Connie's not ready to skip school just yet.
"I do like being at school and studying and seeing my friends," she says. "As much as I enjoy going round the world during the holidays, it's nice to go back to school ... it's just a normal school, and I think that's what I like about it as well, having a bit of a normal life."
That normal life includes a fair amount of netball, and also lots of Stephanie Meyer books.
After she gets home from school and finishes her homework, Connie spends at least an hour playing music. She also loves listening to Demi Lovato, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift.
At the weekend, she writes songs or records a cover for her YouTube channel, which has more than 710,000 subscribers.
"Mum and Dad help me a lot," says Connie, who is the youngest of three children. "Mum records all the videos and Dad helps to set the mics up." The videos help her stay connected with "friends" who like her music. "I don't like to call them fans because I think it sounds really boasty."
And just like any other teenager, Connie faces insecurities too. These are reflected in the songs she writes, two of which are included on her new EP. Gravity speaks of her desire to break free from someone at school who was getting her down, while Inner Beauty deals with confidence and appearance. "I wish I could believe in inner beauty," she sings on the record.
Insecurities aside, beauty is still her main source of inspiration. As an artist, she would like to be defined as "a caring person, and someone musical, probably." Next week, she heads to Hong Kong for a third show in the city, and some dim sum. "I can't wait to come over and see you all. Hope you're happy and healthy!"