Her last name may be tricky to spell (and pronounce), but this is one name we’re never going to forget.
Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, or just Malea Emma for short, is an actress, singer, and model from Los Angeles, California. Not only is she adorable, but the 7-year-old Indonesian is becoming well known in the entertainment industry for her powerful vocal capabilities and innate acting skills.
Malea Emma most recently starred as Molly in the Hollywood Bowl production of “Annie,” alongside veteran Broadway actors, and now she’s making waves online for a stunning version of “The Star Spangled Banner” that’s giving everyone goosebumps the second they hear it.
A few months ago, Malea Emma, with help from her parents Esther and Arman Tjandrawidjaja, entered a contest sponsored by Major League Soccer club the L.A. Galaxy. The Galaxy team held an Instagram contest, seeking out the most talented fans to compete for the honor of singing the national anthem at their Galaxy Social Day.
Malea Emma beat out hundreds of other applicants to win the competition! The Galaxy Twitter account even shared the incredibly sweet moment when the little girl learned she’d be singing the “Star Spangled Banner” before their game against the Seattle Sounders.
😍 PRICELESS.
7-year-old @maleaemma just won the #GalaxySocial National Anthem contest and her reaction will hit you right in the feels 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/FnyFLSgQha
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 19, 2018
What a cutie!
On game day, the tiny singer took the field dressed in her best Galaxy jersey. She looks so small standing there among the adults on the field, but once she begins to sing, all doubts of her singing prowess are instantly erased. The girl’s got pipes!
As all of the players lined up to listen to the anthem, you could see them perk up the second they hear Malea Emma’s voice over the PA system. Swedish Galaxy player Zlatan Ibrahimovic was grinning before she’d even hit the second verse.
Malea Emma’s voice sounds so mature for her age, while still maintaining a childlike tenor that is incredibly moving. There’s just something about a child this age belting out such an emotional and beloved song that really hits you right in the feels.
Those growling vocals sound like something you’d hear from Christina Aguilera, not a little girl this age. She really got into it!
We all know that this is not an easy song to sing, yet Malea Emma made it look so easy. She even hit that final high note on “land of the free,” adding her own vocal flourish to make it even more impressive.
After the song, the stadium erupted into applause as fireworks exploded into the air. After the game, which Galaxy won 3-0, star player Zlatan took to Twitter to share the video of Malea Emma’s performance, calling her the game’s “MVP.”
This is one gifted child! We won’t be surprised when we see her in the future, starring on stage and screen. We’ll be able to say we “knew” her when!
Check out Malea Emma’s incredible version of “The Star Spangled Banner” below, and don’t forget to share.
MUST-WATCH: 7-year-old @MaleaEmma delivers one of the best 🇺🇸 national anthem performances in @StubHubCenter history. pic.twitter.com/SPTY2naMDA
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 24, 2018