I could never accept who I was until a serious car crash... it was then I came out as trans
Nurse goes viral with 1.7m Youtube hits Rapper on brave decision to change gender
IRELAND’S Got Talent hopeful Rodelle Borja has become a viral sensation with more than 1.7 million people watching his emotional audition on Youtube.
The 29-year-old nurse wowed the judges with his rendition of
Elvis Presley’s hit Can’t Help Falling In Love on last week’s show, earning him four Yes votes.
Rodelle, who moved to Ireland from the Philippines last year for work, has racked up close to two million hits on Youtube just five days after the video was uploaded.
Ahead of his audition, he revealed how singing helps him overcome his stutter, which he has had since a child.
Rodelle also told of how he was encouraged to enter the show after singing for his patients at the Tara Winthrop Private Clinic in Swords, Co Dublin, where he works.
He told the Irish Mirror: “They think I’m a very good singer, but I don’t think that myself.
“They were the ones who encouraged me to join Ireland’s
Got Talent, so I did.
“I joined Ireland’s Got Talent to share my talent. Singing is my passion – I can express myself better when I sing.
“I really want to inspire other people, I’m trying to do it myself, train myself. There are times, especially when I’m tired or sick, that I really stutter.” A RAPPER has revealed how a brush with death encouraged him to come out as transgender.
Jake Lanigan, who appears on tomorrow’s episode of Ireland’s Got Talent, was born female but was prompted to transition after being involved in a car crash in 2017.
Three months after the collision, the 21-year-old took the plunge and started his journey to become a man because he released life is “too short”.
Speaking ahead of his audition on the Virgin Media talent show, Jake, from Donaghmede, North Dublin, said: “I haven’t had the heart to accept myself until recently because I felt so alone for years.
“I was in a car crash in December [2017] and I realised then I had to step up and be who I want to be, so that led to me coming out as trans.
“I was born as a girl but I’m transitioning into a male.”
He will perform a heartfelt song dedicated to his mum Aishlinn, who was by his side for the audition in front of judges Louis Walsh, Michelle Visage, Jason Byrne and Denise Van Outen.
Jake, who has been writing music for more than 10 years and who counts Eminem among his biggest musical influences, told of how his mum has supported him throughout his transition over the past year, along with his mental health struggles during his teenage years.
INSPIRATION
Revealing the inspiration behind the original song he performed for the judges, he said: “I wrote my own song – it’s a rap song.
“It’s for my mam, in recognition of her being through a lot.
“I’ve been through depression, suicidal thoughts, stuff like that.
“Then recently, this year, I came out as transgender so that changed that.
“This is really just an ode because she’s really saved my life to be honest. She’s been there through everything.”
Meanwhile, Aishlinn said while Jake only came out as transgender a year ago, her maternal instinct meant she always knew.
Speaking on tomorrow night’s show, the proud mum confessed it was difficult as she was aware of the “hard journey” that would be ahead of him.
Aishlinn added: “I’ve always known. There was an instinct there.
“I remember when he was eight years of age and he said to me, ‘Mam, I don’t think I’m a girl’.
“I’d lie if I didn’t say it hit me hard, but it hit me hard because I