KUALA LUMPUR - Renowned singer Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza’s niece Ummi Umairah Saiful Anuar has made Malaysia proud by winning a gold medal at the 27th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) at the Long Beach Performing Arts Centre in California in the United States this morning.
The 13-year-old, who is also known as Umai, won the medal in the Junior Championship Vocalist category, defeating four other contestants, including participants from the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
Ummi Umairah, who is the daughter of singer Siti Saerah, secured her victory with her rendition of Aretha Franklin’s ‘A Natural Woman’.
The talented teenager shared the news of her victory on her Instagram account, @umairah_sairahtarudin.
"This win is for all of you. Endless thanks to everyone involved," she wrote.
Meanwhile, Siti Nurhaliza also shared a video of Ummi Umairah's performance and left a comment on the latter's Instagram.
"Congratulations, Umai! You've brought home the gold and made Malaysia proud," she said in the one-minute-long video.
In the first round of WCOPA, Ummi Umairah competed in five categories, namely contemporary, open, R&B, world and variety, before advancing to the semifinals in the R&B category.
Ummi Umairah then successfully made it to the finals in the 13- to 15-year-old category. - BERNAMA