The judges - Alexander Kronlund, Kishti Tomita, Katia Mosally och Anders Bagge.
It could have ended very differently. Cimberly almost missed the audition in Luleå because she arrived late.
– My mom was supposed to drive me to Luleå, but the car broke down, she says.
Once there, the Idol production team told Cimberly that they were unfortunately closed and advised her to audition next year. Cimberly was crushed.
– I was so sad because I had put my heart and soul into getting this opportunity, and to miss out was tough.
One of the “Idol Moms” sees the tearful girl standing in front of the just closed doors.
She decides to help Cimberly, and a short time later, the singing star from Skellefteå is standing in front of the judges and sings.
There are about 100 contestants competing in Stockholm, and it's a little nerve-wracking for Cimberly.
Before her final solo audition in front of the audience and the judges, Katia Mosally locks eyes with her and says she wants to see Cimberly shine.
Judge, Katia Mosally.
– I figured I had nothing to lose; either I was all in or I was out. I wanted to impress them and give them a taste of what was to come, Cimberly says.
As she sings her first soulful notes of Doug Seeger's "Going down to the river," judge Anders Bagge throws his hands up in the air and exclaims, "Wow. But even though she wowed the judges with her singing, Cimberly has to wait almost the longest of all for the final "yes" and the news that she has advanced to the live qualification week.
There is tension in the air as the judges decide who among the Idols will go home and who will secure a coveted golden chair and advance to the first of eight Friday finals.
The Idol studio in Spånga is packed and filled with nervousness and anticipation, both in the audience and backstage among the Idols. Newly hatched, eager artists take turns on stage, hoping to continue their journey on Idol. The competition is fierce. When Cimberly takes the stage, Kishti Tomita is so excited that she stammers:
"Girl, you got swag, rhythm, yeah, yeah, you got it all," she says.
Cimberly has advanced to her first Friday final.
Among the twelve contestants, Cimberly is the first to step onto the stage, and with "I Will Survive," she kicks off the first Friday final of Idol 2023. The audience's jubilant applause never seems to end.
– It was nerve-wracking but fun to get the party started, she said afterwards.
The theme for Friday's second live finale is "Idol of Fame," where contestants are asked to sing songs by artists who have been on previous seasons of Idol. Cimberly chooses Agnes's "Release Me.
– You nail everything, says Kishti Tomita.
When the results are announced, it's clear - Cimberly is in the top ten.
The judges' feedback is overwhelmingly positive.
– You're incredibly good. I mean, Jesus, says guest judge Chris Kläfford.
– I agree with the Jesus part. You are unbelievably, unbelievably good. You deliver soul with your whole, whole heart. You're like a rocket, said Anders Bagge.
Idol's third Friday final is fast approaching. This week's theme is "Sweden's Best Songs," and for the first time, Cimberly's voice begins to waver.
– I noticed this morning that my voice is hoarse. No fever, but I'm not feeling great, she tells Norran, who has been interviewing her every Wednesday since the beginning.
– There are a lot of rehearsals and I'm trying my best in every way. When you've put so much work into trying to do something good, it's easy to worry about how the audience will receive it.
Do you feel that expectations have increased?
– Yes, absolutely. I feel the pressure is increasing and it's quite difficult because I know I'm being judged by thousands of eyes.
After her performance, Alexander Kronlund says:
– You have the most important thing of all - star quality. You are almost unbelievably charismatic.
Cimberly Wanyonyi hugs her mum Jaana.
A happy and relieved Cimberly receives a warm hug from her mother Jaana, who is in the studio. She beams at her daughter.
– Mom is my biggest supporter, says Cimberly.
After a somewhat subdued week, Cimberly, Skellefteå's own superstar kicks into high gear with Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All."
– Everything feels so right now, Cimberly tells Norran just before the show.
Cimberly njuter av att få leva sin dröm: ”Att få sjunga inför publik är det jag vill”, säger hon.
Before her performance, host Pär Lernström talks to Cimberly Wanyonyi about her "star quality".
– The judges have said that it's increasing every week, says Lernström.
– The pressure is increasing at the same rate, replies Cimberly.
When it's time to vote, Cimberly is one of the first to hear that she has advanced to the fourth Friday final.
– Sister, you're awesome, says Loreen, who is a guest judge for this Friday's finale.
– There's a final train, and you're on the train, and you're telling your Idol friends, 'Arrivederci,' says Katia Mosally.
As the Fifth Friday finale approaches, Cimberly is especially excited because the theme is "gospel," and she's looking forward to performing with a large gospel choir.
– When I found out we were going to be singing with a full gospel choir, I felt like I wanted to do something really powerful. It's going to be a goosebump moment. At least for me, Cimberly says with a laugh.
And she was probably not the only one who got goosebumps, although judge Katia Mosally was skeptical.
– I don't think the song choice was quite right. It was a little too 'safe', she said after the performance.
– I disagree. She did this as the lead singer of the gospel choir, interjects Carola Häggkvist, who was a guest judge.
But Cimberly is safe and advances to next Friday's final.
Cimberly Wanyonyi plus Linnea Henriksson is now reality. They will be singing a duet together in the sixth Friday final.
What the outside world doesn't know is that Cimberly's mother has just had a major operation and is seriously ill. Cimberly is considering dropping out of the competition because she just wants to be with her family and she would never forgive herself if she were in the wrong place if something serious were to happen. Outwardly, Cimberly keeps it together and sings a happy duet. When the votes are counted, she is in jeopardy for the first time - but she makes it through.
After the show, Cimberly goes home to Skellefteå and visits her mother. After a few days, her mother's condition improves and she is able to leave the hospital. Cimberly returns to Stockholm and to Idol.
It's time for the quarterfinals, with the theme of love, and the Idols are asked to choose a person to dedicate a song to.
– I'm going to honor my mom by singing her favorite song, 'Bed of Roses,' Cimberly says.
Cimberly receives a standing ovation from the judges after her performance. The judges call it "fantastic" and "emotionally beautiful".
When host Pär Lernström asks her what she would say to her mother if she were there, Cimberly answers with a shaky voice:
– I'd say thank you for everything you've done for me.
– Do it then, Lernström replies, and both Cimberly's mother and little brother come on stage.
Lots of emotion as Cimberly's mum surprises her in the studio.
There are a lot of emotions. Although her mother Jaana is not feeling well, she came to the Idol studio to support her daughter.
After Cimberly sings her second song of the quarterfinals, "Natural Woman," Anders Bagge says:
– I have to thank you for auditioning here. With every song I become more and more of a fan.
Cimberly is safe. She will advance to the semi-finals.
Cimberly rehearsing for a Friday final.
With everything going on at home, Cimberly is having a hard time concentrating on the competition. Now she is losing her voice, and the doctors determine that her vocal cords are swollen. She is treated with cortisone and told to rest her voice. After a few days of silence, she receives the devastating news that her grandmother has died.
– I am doing my best to deal with it. It's stressful and I'm afraid that I won't be able to sing while I mourn my grandmother, she tells Norran.
Her boyfriend Isak Uddström travels from Piteå to be with Cimberly in Stockholm and provide support.
– He supports me in everything. He's there for pep talks, emotional support, or just someone to laugh with, Cimberly says.
Cimberly Wanyonyi and Isak Uddström are good friends.
As the semifinal begins, Cimberly gives her best performance yet. Pär Lernström stands behind the stage, jumps, crouches and wipes away tears. The judges stand up and applaud Skellefteå's shining singing star long before the song is over.
Katia Mosally is visibly moved:
– I don't think people understand how much you've been through. You have to make it to the final, because this was one of the best performances of the season, she says.
Now it is down to three and only two will go on. Tonight either Saga Ludvigsson, Simon Näslund or Cimberly Wanyonyi will have to go.
Finally, Cimberly sings the lines "She's just a girl but she's on fire" and it's clear - along with Saga Ludvigsson, she becomes one of the two finalists of the Idol journey.
Cimberly Wanyonyi and Saga Ludvigsson prepare for the final in the Avicii Arena.
– It's so huge that I fought to get here. I can't really comprehend it. I have nothing to lose; I have everything to win. So now I'm going to give it everything I've got, Cimberly says.
