Hailed by Rolling Stone as a “pop prodigy,” Grace VanderWaal has staked a claim to be one of the most exciting names in music today. Upon skyrocketing to fame after winning the 11th season of NBC’s top-rated America’s Got Talent and releasing the best-selling EP Perfectly Imperfect, the ukulele-wielding VanderWaal is singer-songwriter in the truest sense of the term. Born in Kansas and raised in Rockland County, New York, VanderWaal auditioned with an original song for NBC’s America’s Got Talent on a whim. She subsequently charmed America, taking home the show’s top prize and quickly signing a deal with Columbia Records and Simon Cowell’s Syco Records, putting her on track to become one of Generation Z’s brightest stars. “Before AGT, I was just Grace,” she explains. “Then everything was flipped upside down. I never could have even dreamed I’d win or that this was my destiny. I’ve been taking it one step at a time ever since.” VanderWaal was recently honored with Billboard’s ‘Rising Star’ Award at the annual Women in Music awards ceremony in December, was named one of their 21 Under 21 for the second time, and was recognized in Variety’s Youth Impact Report. She has also become a monster presence on YouTube and a social media sensation on Instagram, leading acclaimed modeling agency IMG to recently add her to their prestigious roster.