A Bermudian teen is a performance away from singing at London’s O2 Arena as part of the 2013 UK Open Mic competition.

Lucy Rose Petty, 13, has already made it through the audition and regional rounds of the national competition with her original song “Big Fish,” winning a spot in the Southern England Finals later this month.

Winners of that stage will progress to the UK finals at London’s O2 Arena, where they will compete for £5,000 in cash among along with other prizes.

Around 10,000 unsigned artists from across the UK enter the competition every year.

Father David Petty said Lucy, who lives in Haywards Heath in the UK, won the wildcard spot in the regional competition yesterday based on votes from the public.

While Lucy lives in the UK, he said she returns to the Island every summer and performed at Chewstick during her most recent visit.

Mr Petty said: “As her dad, I am totally blown away. I wouldn’t have believed a 13-year-old could produce such a well-crafted song or voice if I hadn’t heard and seen it myself. I am gushingly proud of her.

“She started singing very young in the car with me when we were driving around — Travis Tritt and Rascal Flatts were mainstays. She particularly likes ‘The Gambler’ by Kenny Rogers because I sang it to her regularly from when she was a baby.

“She has really gotten into the guitar in the past two years, having graduated from the double bass which she used to play for her school jazz band.”

Lucy said: “I feel so blessed to have such a great opportunity, and such amazing supporters. This song means so much to me, the inspiration to write this song was [that] I wanted something people could relate to and I wanted to prove that not all ‘love songs’ have to be the same. The whole experience was thrilling, I feel most comfortable when I’m singing- it’s like my own little world.”

The Southern England finals will take place on November 30 at Ferneham Hall in Fareham, while the final round will take place on January 18.