Dahlia Ashley - Contributed

Andr Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

A favourable comment from Simon Cowell, the mean American Idol judge, is as rare as hen's teeth. Dahlia Ashley is the first Jamaican to make it to the Hollywood round of the competition and had a pleasant run-in with Cowell.

Not only did he tell her she was pretty, he also told her she can sing.

"It was one of the greatest experiences in my life. It built my confidence so high I can sing anywhere," Ashley said. "I feel happy I tried. I feel God planted me there for a purpose, to do greater things for the gospel."

Competition entered

Just as the many thousands who wanted to a chance to audition for the judges, Ashley camped out on the roadside in Colorado to have her two-minute chance.

While she did not make the top 10, theexperience is still one she will remember.

That was not the end of her singing competition attempts, as Ashley also participated in the South Florida Star Search hosted by Emillo Estefan and placed third.

She further went on to Caribbean Idol where she was victorious. Throughout these great achievements, Ashley stays humble to the one who sits high andlooks low.

"I'm nothing without God. In him I move, eat, live and I can do nothing without him," she said.

Her aim is to be one of the world's greatest gospel icons, through whose ministry people will be saved. Dahlia is currently working on her debut album, being produced by Dale 'Dr. Dizzle' Virgo. As a preview to the upcoming album, she has already released her latest single, Hold My Hands.

"When you look at it, you don't have any female gospel artistes at the Papa San level. I want to change that. My mission is to have an impact on the world," Ashley said.

Anything Possible with God

Ashley said her story only goes to show that anything is possible with faith. She gave account of her infant days when she would use just about anything to imitate a microphone, not knowing she would be performing with an actual microphone one day.

She is now known in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, even though she resides in West Palm Beach, Florida. Ashley is not worried though; she is leaving everything to time and is relying on her faith in the Lord.

While she works on her music career full-time, she is also enrolled at the Florida Metropolitan University, studying criminology.