Pop dream will do for our Maria

POP dream . . . Maria Marcial

RISING star Maria Marcial’s dreams of becoming a pop star are well on the way to becoming a reality.

The 27-year-old has been crowned the winner of Music Crown 2010, an online competition decided by a public vote.

Maria, who works at Failsworth Youth Centre, submitted “No Compromise”, a song she wrote and performed herself.

Celebrity judges Shola Ama, Montell Jordan and Ali Campbell whittled all the entries down to a top 10 before members of the public voted for their favourite.

Maria, who has won a 12-month contract with Riot Entertainment, will now start recording her first album and book gigs around the UK.

She will pick up her award during a special concert at Cargo in Shoreditch on October 11.

The singing sensation said: “It was a lot of work to get to this stage and I am exhausted now but it was all worth it. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for me. Now I can concentrate on the serious business of making music.”