Bunbury’s Golden Girl: Local singer Lucy Smith takes Australian Idol by storm

One talented Bunbury teenager has proven her class on national television, singing her way to the Top 50 of Australian Idol.

19-year-old Lucy Smith recently returned to the South West after competing on the latest season of Australian Idol, an experience she could only describe as “surreal.”

Having only started singing at the age of 12, Smith earned the competition’s last golden ticket with her powerful rendition of The Divinyls Pleasure and Pain, a performance described by judge Kyle Sandilands as “haunting.”

And though she was voted out in the early group stages of the competition, she told the Bunbury Herald she was “really grateful” for her time on the show.

“I wasn’t expecting to get on the show at all,” she admitted.

“I was just kind of in a state of shock throughout the whole thing.

“I didn’t really think I would be the ‘Idol’ type to be honest, let alone get four yeses so it was a very surreal, crazy time for me.”

The soulful singer caught the eye of judges before evening singing a single note - through her unique style, fostered by her work at Good Sammy’s Bunbury.

She admitted she thought her look would be a hinderance going into the show, but ended up being what the judges called a “total package.”

“From what I’ve seen of Australian Idol in the last couple of years when it was on, it’s more a very conventional pop kind of theme,” she said.

“That’s all great, I just I think I’m a bit different to that, through my influences and the way I dress.”

While only having a brief experience on the show, she said she was “shocked” by viewer’s response to her voice, with people evening petitioning to get her back on the show.

“I didn’t expect people to care so much,” she laughed.

“But I’m really happy people enjoyed it... I really didn’t think it was that big of a deal.

“I’m just so thankful to everyone for enjoying it, and all the lovely comments I’m getting... I’ve seen some people are trying to start a petition to get me back on the show.

“They were telling me how outrageous I was eliminated, and so many people said that I was their favourite and how they were expecting to see me in the top 10, which was amazing to hear because I never thought in a million years I belonged there.”

And though she may not have made it far into the competition, the Op-Shop worker said is “really glad” her co-workers encouraged her to audition and for the exposure it has provided her.

“I didn’t think it was worth auditioning for,” she admitted.

“But I’m glad (my co-worker) encouraged me to...I’ve met a lot of really interesting people and it was interesting getting to see a new side of the music industry.”

If you loved Lucy’s performance, you can catch her live at Busselton’s The Deck Bar and Restaurant on February 26.

Australian Idol continues Saturday, Sunday and Monday evenings on Seven and 7Plus.