Although she has a voice that is soft and beautiful, this woman is tougher than nails. But if you listen closely to the words of the song she chose, it tells a lot about her own personal story.

Marianna Zappi has a bubbling personality and amazing smile, but underneath the exterior is a lot of pain. She was in a terribly abusive relationship for four long years; a relationship that was so bad that she was afraid she’d never make it out alive.

But make it out alive she did, and now she is finally finding the courage to pursue another dream of hers. She wants to be a singer and share her story with the world. To do that, she’s taking to the X-Factor stage to do it. Marianna explained to the judges that music is what saved her during the darkest times of her life. It was music that kept her going and gave her the courage to leave her abusive relationship and go to The Women’s Trust for help.

She chose the song “Redemption Song” because the lyrics meant so much to her. She says as someone who was caged a long time, freedom really feels like a blessing now. Even through her emotional story and the tears, Marianna still managed to hit notes that many professional artists can’t manage to hit. Truly, she has remarkable talent and the judges didn’t hesitate to agree.

By the time her audition was over, Marianna had received four yes votes and was headed to the next round. Even Simon Cowell, the judge known for being tough on contestants, told Marianna that she has a beautiful voice.

Check out her astounding video below and be sure to share it with your family and friends. This is an audition that you don’t want to miss!