Singer Ari-Genae Simmons sang her way into the Island's history as she scooped first prize in the first ever Bermuda Idol competition at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium on Sunday night.

Ms Simmons, who also celebrated her birthday on Sunday, said she only entered the competition because she wanted to see her idol Stephanie Mills. But when she heard that Ms Mills was not coming, she decided she would not perform.

But her family and friends were not having it and they spent the better part of Saturday trying to convince the winner to sing.

After she won and got over the initial shock of becoming Bermuda Idol, she said she was just trying her best not to faint.

"I cannot believe it," said the former Ecstasy band singer. "I am an average singer and that is why I perform as hard as I do, because I know that performance is the key.

"I think it is climbing over a hurdle, but I think the journey is still long.

"I have been doing it for so long that there really are no questions about what I should be doing."

Ms Simmons said she was not allowed to sing, but she said her aunt Gladys Darrell recognised her talent and encouraged her to continue.

The organisers HOTT 107.5 fm said they planned to make the Bermuda Idol competition an annual event.

Ms Simmons will go to Chicago were she will record a song with music producer NO ID.

The two runners-up were singers Joy Barnum, who sings everything from rock to opera and Twan?e Butterfield, who opened for rap artist Snoop Dog during a concert tour and was 2002 Hal Jackson's Talented Teen competition winner.

And third-place winner was Antonia Simons, who recently took part in the Young Artists Showcase.

Several of the other contestants said they enjoyed the competition and even though they did not win ? they had fun. One of the judges said the competition, the talent and the job that Gita Blakeney did with preparing the contestants was incredible.

"I think the people who got the top spots were the right ones and I felt really good about that and everyone could go home feeling great," said.

"It was difficult to decide, and I don't think that any of us were sure how it would pan out in the end, but we knew who the top four were, but everybody did a great job.

"All the different age ranges, we had people from 18 to 40."