Australia’s Got Talent Grand Final: Meet the contestants

Jennifer Anderson: Singer, 50

At 50, Australia’s Got Talent grand finalist Jennifer Anderson is finally tasting the success she’s dreamed of all her life. But a stint on another reality show 15 years ago almost made her give up singing completely.

The Melbourne mum tells TV WEEK she went on the show “that will remain nameless” because she was worried she was getting too old to be a singer.

“I was genuinely panicking, so I thought, ‘I’ll give this a shot,'” she recalls.

“It went horribly, horribly wrong. I wasn’t treated with integrity. I came out believing that I didn’t have what it takes from a talent point of view – and that absolutely crushed me. I didn’t sing a note for eight years.”

At the time, Jennifer was a stay-at-home mum to one boy, Nicholas. Ten years ago, she had another boy, William, who she refers to as her “miracle child”.

“There’s a six-and-a-half-year gap between the two of them, because I’d had more miscarriages than I counted in between,” she explains. “I couldn’t hold a pregnancy for more than about three weeks.”

It was for the sake of Nicholas and Will that Jennifer decided to go on AGT.

“I thought, ‘If they haven’t seen me face my fears, then how are they going to face theirs?'”

When Will saw his mum’s amazing performance, he “jumped up and down”. Nicholas, however, sent her a beautiful text, saying,”I’m proud of what you did. You’re brave.”

“That made me cry,” she admits.

These days, Jennifer wants to take her career in the music industry as far as she possibly can.

“It’s the right time in my life,” she reveals.

Umit Bali: Comedian, 34

“My Australia’s Got Talent audition went viral in Fiji!” Umit, who left Fiji with his parents when he was 13, says.

“This was such a massive surprise to a nobody like me. I was so overwhelmed.”

Lioz Shem Tov: Comedy Illusionist, 42

“For me, being in the final and giving the Australian audience a good time is the real win,” Lioz, who travelled all the way from Israel to impress audiences Down Under, explains.

Mitch Tambo: Singer, 29

“The outpouring of love received from not only my community but around the world has been incredible,” Indigenous artist Mitch, who brought Nicole Scherzinger to tears with his unique musical and dance performance, explains.

Kristy Sellars: Pole Performer, 32

“I’ve had so many messages saying I’ve changed the way they view pole performance,” Kristy gushes.

Olina: Singer, 16

If singer Olina Loau wins the $100,000 prize, she knows exactly what she’d do with the money.

“I’d give it to my dad, then he can do whatever he wants with it!” Olina, 16, laughs.

“I’d give it to my family as well – my auntie. I wouldn’t keep it to myself!”

The performer owes a lot to her family.

Her aunt Helen took her and her dad in when Olina’s mother walked out when she was nine.

Olina hasn’t had any contact with her since – she’s not even sure whether her mother knows about her AGT success.

“Of course I’d want her to know that I’m on the show,” she says.

Everyone in Olina’s extended family is musical, but for Olina, singing holds a special place in her heart.

Focusing on lessons and competitions helped ease the pain of her mother leaving.

“That’s the reason why I’m in love with music so much, because it did take me away from that,” she reveals.

Lil Kookies: Dance Crew, 9-13

This crew of talented youth dancers are desperate to win as “it would open so many doors,” they tell us.

“It would show that kids can be awesome, too.”

Sienna Osborne: Dancer, 13

“I want to show both girls and boys that no matter what happens, if you work hard your dreams can come true,” teen dancer Sienna says.

Akrobatika: Acrobatic Troupe, 8-30

Studio director Jo brought together students from across the globe to inspire them to chase their dreams. The team have “enjoyed so much growth from the boost in confidence” they’ve all felt since Manu awarded them the golden buzzer.

Captain Ruin: Knife Thrower, 31

“Life hasn’t changed because of AGT, but it has been great to share my performances with a wider audience,” the stuntman.

The Australia’s Got Talent finale airs Sunday, 7pm, on Channel Seven.