Congratulations are in order for Gina Miles!
The 19-year-old was crowned the Season 23 winner of The Voice on Tuesday (May 23) after receiving the most votes for her outstanding performances on the show all season.
It was not an easy feat to accomplish, as Miles has spent years working on original music and moved from her small hometown of Paxton, Illinois to follow her dreams to become a singer/songwriter in Sacramento, California.
“It still hasn’t hit me yet,” Miles tells Celeb Secrets reporter Ilana Epstein exclusively in a virtual interview the morning after her big win. “It’s an honor and I’m really grateful to be here. To be on [Blake’s] last season was so cool, and it’s such an honor to be on Niall’s team. It’s been so fun throughout this whole process.”
Miles began her journey on The Voice with a stunning rendition of Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away” for her blind audition. And while coaches Niall Horan and Kelly Clarkson were the only two to turn their chairs, everyone knew that the talented teen would make it far throughout the season.
Week after week, Gina captured the hearts of America thanks to her out-of-this-world performances of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Kodaline’s “All I Want,” Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love,” Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” and Taylor Swift’s “Style,” before ending her run on a high note with a duet of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” that featured her coach Niall Horan.
“We’re just buds. He’s a great friend and h’es so fun to work with and collaborate with,” Miles says of her relationship with the former One Direction member. “Throughout this whole process, he’s been so helpful and nothing but supporting and encouraging, so it’s been great. I’m sure that we’ll be friends for a long time.”
But Niall wasn’t the only friend Gina left with after the show was over. The Sacramento resident become close with a ton of the other contestants, including popular Team Niall members Ryley Tate Wilson and Kala Banham.
Throughout the season, Team Niall made a variety of TikToks lead by “social media guru” Kate Cosentino, giving fans an inside look as to what it was like to really compete on a show like The Voice.
“I love every single person on this show. Everybody is so talented, sweet and funny, and I’ve had the best times with them,” she says with a smile. “I think that this show and this experience would not have been the same without all the people that I’ve met. It’s been really cool to hang out with them and see them grow. ”
@ginamilesofficial tonight was crazy and i am so grateful ❤️ thanks @niallhoran for letting me keep representing #teamniall 🫶🏻🫶🏻 #trending #thevoice #fyp #singersongwriter #foryou
Moving forward, Gina wants to continue to work on her music and grow as an artist.
“I’m not sure when but I’m hoping to put out music and make albums and sing whenever I can,” she reveals. “That’s what it’s all about.”
For more on Gina’s historic win and time on The Voice, make sure to watch our full interview below. You can relive Gina’s and the rest of the contestants’ best moments by watching The Voice on Peacock before season 24 begins later this fall.
