Tom Powell
A GIBRALTAR schoolgirl in the semi-final of Spain’s biggest childrens talent show has called for the Rock’s support following confusion over her identity.
Elisha Lang, 12, has asked for understanding after she was dubbed as being from Cadiz on the massive hit TV show La Voz Kids.
She now wants the Rock to get behind her, as she competes in the penultimate round next Monday.
The talented singer – who has sung at National Day and at numerous charity events – has fought off an incredible 20,000 applicants to reach the last 15.
But the Westside pupil, whose family also has a home in Los Barrios, caused a stir on the Rock when she told the show’s judges she ‘came from Cadiz’.
Ironically, the show aired just hours after Elisha had performed the Gibraltar national anthem of ‘llevame donde naci’ (Take me where I was born) at the Evacuation anniversary concert in September.
“I know people might have been offended that I said I came from Cadiz on the show, but I didn’t know what to say,” Elisha told the Olive Press.
“I have made it clear I am from Gibraltar in Spanish interviews. This is my home and I’m proud of it.
“I want to thank everybody in Gibraltar who has supported me, especially at my school,” continued Elisha, who started performing at the age of three.
Her father Scott added: “It should be about her voice, not where she is from.”
The show’s producers initially had no issue with Elisha registering under a Gibraltar address. However, after succeeding at preliminary auditions in Sevilla and two in Madrid, her family were told by the show’s legal team she MUST have a Spanish address and town hall registration.
Her mother Claire admitted: “We were worried that because she was from Gibraltar, it might affect her chances in the public vote.
“But it turns out that only the judges decide who goes through until the final, when it is up to the studio audience.”
She added: “With hindsight, everyone has been so kind on the show that we don’t think mentioning Gibraltar would have made a difference.”
Elisha, who now counts 10,000 Instagram followers, was actually born in Northumberland, in the UK, but moved to Los Barrios while two weeks old and has always been schooled in Gibraltar.
Both her mother Claire and father Scott have Gibraltarian parents.
The hardest part of the competition so far has not been the singing, she admitted, but having to brush up on her Spanish!
