Straight As in her GCSEs have not stopped Becky Burraway from following her dream to be as big as Whitney Houston.

The 17-year-old, who left Wimbledon High last year to study at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, has made it to the regional semi-finals of a major competition.

More than 10,000 people apply to Live and Unsigned each year in the hopes of being picked as a top new recording artist.

Unlike the X Factor, Live and Unsigned encourages contestant to perform their own style and genre, according to its web site.

Becky, of Wimbledon Village, plans to sing a West Side Story number or a big power ballad when she takes part in the next stage of the contest at Croydon's Fairfield Halls.

Mum Caroline said: "We didn't know about Becky's talent until she auditioned to play Dorothy in a school production of the Wizard of Oz when she was in year 6. She just got up and sang, and everyone was amazed."

Becky studies rock and pop styles at college, but gets classical training from Wimbledon resident Sharon Lloyd, who has sung with the likes of Pavarotti.

Caroline says this is where Becky's real talent lies.

"In the competition, she's not singing the usual pop songs. But it's got her this far. I've told her if they don't pick her, it doesn't matter. She has to be true to herself."

None of Becky's three siblings consider themselves to be musical, but she thinks her ability comes from her great grandmother, Anita Hayes, who was a well known performer in the 1920s.

Becky said: "I'm inspired by people like Whitney Houston - the singers with big vocal ranges. This is my first proper competition, and I'm so excited."