As we grow closer to the arrival of Hayley Jensen, the former Australian Idol Contestant, Solomon Times together with the Australian High Commission in Honiara has put together a little background on Hayley.
Born in the 1980s, Hayley grew up loving the music of the era, her favorites being that of Martika, Cyndi Lauper and Roxette.During her teenage years, Hayley was involved in a Canberra church band, Soul'd Out, singing backup and sometimes lead.
Whilst working at a regional supermarket on the outskirts of Canberra, Hayley met her future-husband, Tim Jensen. After a four year-union the two married in January of 2004.
It was also in 2004, after winning Karaoke competitions around her hometown that Hayley decided to audition for Australian Idol.
The journey to the idol top 12 was not an easy one for Hayley, having to audition twice in two different cities.
Rejected by both Mark and Dicko, the tough Australian Idol judges, in the Canberra auditions, Hayley refused to give up on her dream and made her way up to Sydney to try again.
But again Mark and Dicko were less than welcoming, but wearing her heart on her sleeve she managed to get Mark to say "Yes".
Following that momentous day Hayley has made her way through the audition process into the semi-finals where her heart-breaking rendition of Angel got her through to the Final 12.
It was in the semi-finals that Hayley bonded with her new final 12 buddy, Channel Cole.
Throughout the finals Hayley has had the support of the Nations Capital, and her loving family who are always an active part of the Idol audience.
The idol journey ended for Hayley on the 1st of November 2004, coming in at an impressive 4th out of 50,000 auditioners!
Congratulations from fans, family and those on the show poured in following her exit, and hardly a dry eye could be found that fateful night.
One thing however is certain-This is only the beginning.
Hayley Jensen's visit will certainly raise the water level of the Solomon Islands music industry to a whole new level of competitiveness.
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