Nikki Loiero, a senior music industry major in Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts, belts out one of country music star Shania Twain's biggest hits on today's episode of the FOX television show "Performing As." The show, which premiered in August, gives contestants the chance to be transformed into the likeness of a popular singing sensation and sing one song-in their own voices-for the chance to win a $200,000 grand prize.
Singing "Man I Feel Like A Woman," Loiero appears on the episode set to air locally Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. on WSYT FOX 68.
"I think this show was an amazing experience for me, especially as a young person," says Loiero. "It has given me great exposure. This has always been my dream, and it is only the beginning of my singing career."
The audition process took six weeks, with thousands of people auditioning.
In July, FOX paid for Loiero to fly from California to Liverpool, N.Y. for interviews with her family, including her father, Vincent Loiero, a long time SU maintenance employee. She was also interviewed and taped at the Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music along with Julianna Sabol, an associate professor of music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
After weeks of intense training, it was time for Loiero to perform in front of hundreds of people, complete with Shania's hairstyle, make-up and costume.
"The minute I walked on that stage, I got right into character, and the crowd was cheering like crazy," says Loiero. "I sang my song and put on an incredible show. I felt like a star when I was performing."
Loiero's fans will need to wait until the show airs to find out what judges thought of her performance, but according to her, "I put my all into it, and I wanted the crowd to feel what I was feeling when it all came from the heart."
