Avon is proud to be that "company for women", and to celebrate its 125th anniversary, the global cosmetic giant launched Avon Voices, an almost year-long worldwide singing competition for women.
Avon chairman and CEO Andrea Jung speaks onstage to the 10 Avon Voices finalists."Avon Voices would be a great extension of the work we're already doing ... celebrating women voices," said Joe Billone, VP of communications at Avon Products. "Everyone loves music. The American pop music presence is so strong around the world, especially in female pop music. From Whitney Houston to Christina Aguilera, these are the voices they grew up with; these are the voices they hear."
The 10 finalists, including Thailand's Rapeeporn Pratum-Anon, gathered in New York City earlier this month for the final performances and Avon's gala dinner to reveal the two winners and honour the Avon Foundation for Women award recipients. In the Avon representatives category Selena Gittens of Canada walked home tall and proud, while Lithuania's Evelina Anusauskaite was the winner in the general public section.
"Being chosen as one of the winners was a big victory for me," said Anusaukaite, who sang I Will Always Love You as her finale to a stunned crowd. "I hope that through winning this talent search I can inspire other women in Lithuania, and from around the world, that their dreams can come true too."
Evelina Anusauskaite from Lithuania, the winner in the general public category.Avon Voices began by inviting online submissions, which attracted attention from women in 60 countries. The women, as well as Avon representatives, submitted videos of themselves singing their hearts out. Then it was boiled down to 125, and from there 25 were chosen to go to Hollywood where they received coaching from Colombian singing sensation, Maia, who also served as a celebrity judge, as well as David Pack who served as the contest's music director and producer.
"Some of the girls didn't have any techniques," said Maia, who also confessed to having a hard time picking the winners as she formed personal bonds with each one of them. "I felt I could help them. They worked so hard. They're all prepared for this. I've been telling them to transmit messages to the audience. Artists need to be transmitters. I love all of them. They're all different. They all can be artists."
The celebrity judges included superstars from around the world. From Fergie, also an Avon ambassador, Diane Warren, Natasha Bedingfield, Delta Goodrem, Lea Salonga, Ivete Sangalo, Sheila E to Valeriya, the judging table was definitely star studded, but they weren't there only to lend their bigger-than-life names to the contest. The judges were said to be heavily involved in every step of the way. Even the busy Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie sat down and went through clip after clip of submissions. She even enlisted her husband Josh Duhamel to lend a helping hand. "Josh and I actually did the first round together," said Fergie. "We watched all the backgrounds and all the videos. I wanted to get his perspectives because I'm in the business so I'm looking for certain things. I want his perspectives as a buyer and lover of music. We had different comments about every artist. It was great. We compared notes."
"I'm excited to be a part of this process as it empowers women, giving them voices," British pop singer Natasha Bedingfield said. "I'm really surprised to see that we have so many stars. It's very inspiring to see people around the world coming together."
Sticking to its mantra of empowering and empowered women, Avon Voices chose to steer its contest direction towards friendly, gentle competition. Contestants forged friendships and rooted for each other on and off stage. "We really hit the chord of bringing people together through the love of music and sharing their voices," said Billone. "We want to bring women together. We want the project to be positive. We want it to supportive. It's not a cut-throat competition, that's not what we wanted. The judges were blown away by them. Fergie's reactions [at the finale] were genuine. She was moved. We had to send for Kleenex for the judges!"
Thai representative Rapeeporn also felt the same as she joked around with fellow finalists.
Selena Gittens, an Avon Representative from Canada and one of the two Avon Voices winners."I don't even want to call this a competition," she said. "To me, it's more like a talent search as the atmosphere is so loving and friendly. It's never hostile. It's not that kind of contest. We're all friends now. It's lovely. It's like being a part of a new family. I am really grateful for that."
Classically trained singer, music teacher at an international school and guest BSO singer, Rapeeporn learned of the competition through her friend. Rapeeporn was adopted, a point that has been well publicised throughout her run in Avon Voices, and hoped that her participation in the contest would encourage other adopted children around the world.
Rapeeporn gained a bachelor's degree in opera singing before she went on to study her master's degree in musical theatre in Sydney. As a musical junkie, Rapeeporn chose to sing Defying Gravity from Wicked as the number suited her voice and the song's meaning struck close to her heart.
"I was worried about the accent," she said. "I thought it would be a problem, but training and practicing hard definitely helped. Maia as a coach also helped a lot."
After the final performance, Rapeeporn, in an interview before the results were revealed during the gala dinner, felt that her chance of winning was 50/50, but it was her favourite, Selena Gittens, who went on to win. But winning or not winning didn't seem to bother Rapeeporn who couldn't stop gushing over her Avon-sponsored chances to enjoy the ride from working with award-winning celebrities to meeting her hero Lea Salonga.
"I hope I can inspire kids at home and around the world to keep on trying," she said. "For those who compete, and constantly get kicked down, your chance will come someday if you try hard enough. Even if I didn't win, it was such a journey. I never thought I'd make it this far. It's an amazing experience and opportunity. I'll use this entire process as an example for my kids. I'll pass on the knowledge that I've learned to them. I've learned so many things, and that's already enough. Not many music teachers or singers could have this kind of experience."
The judges also showered Rapeeporn with praises.
"She's beautiful," said Fergie. "She's definitely got that intimate, internal thing that draws you. She's angelic. She's got this innocence about her that I love."
"She's happy and she's cheerful," added Maia. "She touches everybody with happiness, and that's a special gift. We all love her because of that."
Rapeeporn said that if opportunities present, she'll be happy to record her own album back in Thailand.
As for the winners, they'll now have a chance to sing a Diane Warren-penned number, and the CD will be distributed through Avon channels around the world.
Rapeeporn Pratum- Anon representing Thailand.
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