Ruti

Emerging victorious on the 2018 series of The Voice brought instant recognition to Ruti Olajugbagbe. Her roots lie in Southend-on-Sea, where she balanced part-time caregiving duties with enrollment at Youth Creation Performing Arts School in Stanford-le-Hope. Leisure hours were devoted to both a harmony group and a dance group. Entry into the ITV television show that year secured her a place on Tom Jones’ team after she performed George Ezra’s “Budapest.” Public votes delivered the title on April 7, 2018, when she edged out 16-year-old Donel Mangena, prompting an immediate recording contract with Polydor. Once the program concluded, she issued the winning single, her cover of the Cranberries’ “Dreams.”