Local comedian Nadanja Bailey has won first place in the Fashion Rock SummerFest 05 competition.

The Two Fools series co-founder has proven that he?s got what it takes on the international stage.

Mr. Bailey said he shed tears when he found out that he had won the comedy portion of the contest, which was held at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center earlier this week.

?I was really surprised when I won and when I came off stage I cried tears of joy for about 45 seconds,? he said. ?I know cause I was watching my watch.?

Mr. Bailey found out about the competition through his father well-known soprano saxophonist Wendel (Shine) Hayward.

?My daddy was fiddling online with stuff one day and he came across this thing called ?Fashion Rock?,? he said.

?Apparently Fashion Rock is real big in the States, it?s kind of like American Idol were you have a competition and then you have a winner. But you have one winner in different categories ranging from acting, comedy, modelling, singing and dance.?

Bermuda?s funny man was up against fierce competition with all the competitors.

?It was a total of 2,000 plus participants, and I Nadanja Bailey made it to the finals in the comedy category,? he said.

?And then I had to perform in front of everyone in the competition and the judges claimed me the winner. I received a plaque as a finalist and then I received another one that says Fashion Rock Comedy Winner. I also won $6,500 dollars in prizes.?

Prior to going into the competition, Mr. Bailey who planned to go on the road, only wanted a representative.

?I only went to get an agent, so that I can get my face out there in the big screen,? he said.

?My partner Jarizhino (Jah) Simmons and I have been talking about travelling and going on the road ?cause we know we can make it. It?s just a matter of the right people seeing us. So, I went with my daddy to find an agent, but it ended up were I had to perform and compete against other people from all over the United States and the Caribbean and I came out on top.?

But, funny as he is, Mr. Bailey was shocked by his win.

?I was surprised because I thought this girl was funnier,? he said. ?But the judges and the people thought otherwise.

?As a result, I still don?t have an agent, but it was a good experience and I encourage anyone who wants to be recognised to get involved with Fashion Rock and network once you arrive.

?I will be on national TV once they edit everything and the people of Bermuda can see what I had to go through. I performed on Sunday in front of judges, and the finals were on Monday.?

?I performed in front of over 4,500 people, which is my largest audience ever.?

Since which, he said: ?I have had tons of people ask me to come to their club and perform.?