A LITTLE Lever girl who appeared on ITV talent show The Voice Kids says the experience made her more comfortable being herself.

Drew Gudojc, aged 14, had no formal singing training and initially told her mum, Susan, that she did not want to take part in the show.

But, she became a huge hit and sang her way into the final, alongside Bolton's Danny Jones, who coached Drew through the competition.

The teen said the former McFly singer had always told her to "be herself" and embrace her own style, something that helped her gain confidence.

She explained that in the past, people had been negative about her style and interests, even bullying her at school, but after her experiences on the show, she feels even more comfortable doing her own thing.

She went on to urge anyone else with talent to put themselves in the spotlight and give it a go.

Drew said: "Danny and the other judges always told me to be myself and to hear such important people tell me to be myself, it’s made me want to be more crazy with my style and everything.

"I think for people who were like me before, and they were nervous or didn’t think they should do it, you should just do it and get on with it.

"People haven’t always been positive about me or how I’m different or my singing. But after doing this, people have sent me so many messages saying they like my style, it’s been a little weird but I have really enjoyed it."

Drew had never had an interest in becoming a singer before, instead pursuing other interests, such as Thai boxing and volunteering to help animals - which she is still involved with.

However, after competing on Sing Bolton Sing she was noticed by ITV bosses, who asked her to come and compete on TV.

She explained: "It’s been mad, I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s gone from being a normal life and then this big thing happened, it’s weird to think its actually happened to me.

"Before I did The Voice I wasn’t sure if it was something I wanted to do, but now it’s finished I miss it so much and I think I want to go back to it.

"Before this started I had done some competitions in school but never anything as big as this."

Filming for the show had been taped in London over a number of weekends leading up to a live final, which featured a special performance from Kylie Minogue.

Drew's mum Susan Gudojc, explained that the experience had been tough for her and her daughter, but both had enjoyed it.

She said: "It’s an amazing experience, it’s been hard work because we have been going to London most weekends. I’m very proud of her but it was really stressful.

"At the end of the day, she’s still only 14, she’s still only a child and it’s a big thing for a child to stand in front of that huge audience and do what she did. I got to go out on stage once and it was just crazy, I don’t know how she did it.

"She’s enjoyed every moment of it, she’s only ever gone on karaoke as a kid growing up, she entered a competition called Sing Bolton Sing and they saw her there and asked her to go along to The Voice.

"She’s never had any training, she did a bit of stuff at school and with GCSE music but she’s just a natural really, I don’t know where she’s got it from!

"She’s always been very different Drew, she’s not one who follows the crowd, she doesn’t let it phase her and she won’t change."