Monday, Apr. 04, 2011
Susan Boyle
Age: 50
Occupation: Singer
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
Boyle certainly couldn't have dreamed the dream she's been living since she showed off her pipes and stunned the skeptical judges on Britain's Got Talent two years ago. The journey from anonymity to stardom has brought her two multiplatinum No. 1 albums, a book deal and an exhaustive media tour across the world. In a culture obsessed with vanity and beauty, Boyle's fame is a victory for genuine talent. Though her looks have been touched up since her initial appearance on Talent, this real-life Cinderella is poised to continue her ascent to fame, already garnering nods in South Park and The Simpsons.