Jessica Sanchez is truly gifted. The singer was crowned the winner of the 20th season of *America's Got Talent*, outshining freestyle rapper Chris Turner to claim the grand prize in the Sept. 24 episode. For the 30-year-old artist—who first auditioned for the NBC competition back in 2006 but failed to reach the grand finale of Season One—this remarkable achievement was a culmination of "two decades in the making."
"I was on Season One when I was just 10 years old," she recounted to *Billboard* in an interview published on Sept. 25. "Throughout all those years, I faced rejection and felt like a failure. But I had to pick myself back up and believe in myself again. I kept fighting for my dreams, and over these 20 years, it’s been incredibly challenging to discover who I am as an artist and as a woman."
Jessica's triumph was not only a full-circle moment but also etched her name into the annals of *AGT* history. She secured victory while nine months pregnant with her and husband Rickie Gallardo's first child. "This has been the toughest challenge I’ve ever faced, both physically and vocally," she confessed. "I’m battling my hormones! And with my baby growing inside—it’s wonderful that she’s healthy, but she’s pressing against my diaphragm, so I basically had to relearn how to sing."
That’s why the *American Idol* alum believes the word that best captures her journey is "surrender." "Being pregnant and doing this," she mused, "I never imagined I’d spend my first pregnancy figuring out how to sing and perform."
Reflecting on her *AGT* experience, Jessica added, "It all ended so beautifully for me, but now I’m about to step into a new chapter. My pregnancy is nearing its end, and I’m about to become a mom."
And she’s eager to share her love of music with her little one. As Jessica put it, "I’m still on this beautiful journey, and there’s so much happening."
