THIS week, Time out wants interviewed Ni Ni Khin Zaw, the winner of the Melody World 2009 singing contest.

This seventeen-year-old amateur singer has proved with her beautiful voice that she’s as good as many professionals.

Incidentally, Ni Ni Khin Zaw received the highest number of SMS votes during the Melody World contest meaning that she won both the appreciation of the judges and the audience.

Timeout: What inspired you to compete in the contest?
Ni Ni Khin Zaw: It was my mum. She took the contest entry form and prepared everything for me to compete. That’s why I wasn’t serious much about the contest at first. And I suppose singing is my second choice [career].

So, what’s your first choice?
My education! I’m a second year medical student and to be a doctor is my destiny. But the closer I came to winning the more I realised that becoming a singer is part of my destiny too.

After you realised you had a chance of winning the prize, what did you prepare for the contest?
I never thought that I could be the best at Melody World. I focused on it when I reached level 4 because this was the time after my first year exam and I had more time to spend on practicing.

Have you thought much about why you won over your competitors?
They were all great at singing and I can’t say I’m the best. As they usually chose two [contestants] except in the final stage, sometimes I took second place in some levels. But I think I was able to choose the right songs, which are suited with my voice and I performed with my own style every time I sang. I didn’t follow the way the famous singers sing even though I sang their songs.

What did you feel when they announced the winner?
Too excited! I was excited a lot at every level. You know there are only six stages. If there were three more stages to win, I think I would have had a heart attack. Of course, I wanted to win. I have self-confidence but I don’t dare to believe my fate and I thought I had a 50 percent chance of winning.

What’s your opinion on the contest?
It’s a real contest. We had to practice at the studio and some people are really good at the practice. But all the judges are fair and they judged you only on your performances on stage.
For the amateurs like me, it was a great chance to be a singer. As the contest lasted the whole year, we learnt many things about singing. And the judges always explained our weak points after every competition so that we could think about our weaknesses.

Now you are the best of Melody World 2008. Has it changed you?
People recognise my singing talent. And I’m also proud to win such a title from a contest with such a great reputation.

If you hadn’t have competed….
I think I would be very far from following my pursuit. Without the contest I’m sure that I would have only thought about music after my graduation.