Ocean Waitokia won the Caroline Bay Talent Quest at the weekend. Photo Susan SandysThere are not many singers who can pull off an impressive rendition of The Bodyguard classic, I Will Always Love You.

But Ocean Waitokia from Ashburton managed it, with her cover so impressive it won the Caroline Bay Talent Quest intermediate section for 17 years and under.

The 16-year-old said she sang the song in its most popularly known style as delivered by the iconic Whitney Houston.

It got her through auditions and the semi-finals on Friday, before mesmerising crowds at the quest on Saturday.

“It feels good to be back in the game,” said the Ashburton College Year 12 pupil of the win.

The experience was her singing career highlight since going to America in 2017 for the World Championships of Performing Arts.

However when she thought about it, there was just as much to be proud of last year, when she was overall runner-up in the country music Star Awards in Tauranga.

Ocean has been singing since she was just three, when her grandmother Linda took her to a fundraising event for the Ashburton Trust Event Centre held on the East Street chessboard. Ronald McDonald was there, where he held a Fifteen Seconds of Fame event. Ocean sang Tutira Mai, and won a bicycle.

Her talent has since seen her hit the high notes with many a country music festival award over the years, and even be hosted by a talent show in Germany.

Ocean does not plan to make music her career, instead looking at either becoming an orthodontist or marine biologist, but will continue to perform whenever she can.

“I will always have music with me. I like meeting new people, and all the new experiences it brings.”

By Susan Sandys © The Ashburton Guardian - 8 January 2019