When 14-year-old Destiny Chukunyere stepped onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage in 2017, she made a daring choice: Aretha Franklin’s powerhouse hit “Think”—a song that challenges even the most experienced vocalists. The bold pick raised some eyebrows, particularly from judge Simon Cowell, who doubted whether such a young singer could do the iconic track justice. But as Destiny began to sing, doubts melted away.
From her very first note, Destiny stunned the crowd with her commanding voice, seamless stage presence, and infectious energy. What started as skepticism from Cowell quickly turned into appreciation as he watched her performance unfold. By the time she reached the final chorus, the entire auditorium—judges and audience alike—were on their feet, cheering. Even Cowell, often the show’s toughest critic, praised her talent and star potential. With unanimous approval from all four judges, Destiny advanced to the next round.
Although she ultimately finished sixth in the semi-finals, her BGT performance marked a breakthrough moment in her music career. Destiny’s musical journey had begun earlier in her native Malta, where she started singing at 12 and quickly gained recognition—placing third in the Festival Kanzunetta Indipendenza with her song “Festa t’Ilwien.” These early experiences laid the groundwork for her confident stage persona.
Destiny’s admiration for Aretha Franklin is long-standing. In fact, she had previously performed “Think” during Malta’s Junior Eurovision national selection in 2015. That same year, she represented Malta in Sofia, Bulgaria, and took home the Junior Eurovision title with her original song “Not My Soul.” The empowering anthem won her a record-breaking 185 points, showcasing her ability to blend emotional depth with technical prowess.
Destiny continued her musical ascent by competing in Malta’s version of The X Factor and later represented her country again at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 with “All Of My Love.” With a track record of powerful performances, a growing international fan base, and early acclaim from industry leaders like Simon Cowell, Destiny Chukunyere has proven herself to be one of Malta’s brightest rising stars.
