Anthony Minott, Freelance Writer

These ladies fill out forms after being given a call back to face the second day of eliminations. - peta-gaye clachar

While some participants were sad and angry when they were asked to leave the Digicel Rising Stars studio at the Portmore HEART Academy on Saturday, because they didn't make the cut, there were others who smiled and walked away pleased as preliminary judges Roy Rayon and David Wedderburn gave them their acceptance slips to return the following day.

Last-minute entry

One such contestant was Marco Dane Lorne, who just by coincidence entered the competition at the last minute.

"I think I have accomplished something, people encouraged me to enter because I have a good singing voice, I just came to support my friends who are in the competition and they insisted that I entered, I did and I was successful," he said. The song he voiced was 'N sync's This I Promise You.

Dwayne DaCosta aka Abina Dai, a reggae/R&B singer, sang his heart out and the judges loved his presentation. He felt so good that he was still harmonising after he received his acceptance slip.

Ricardo Taylor, wearing number 763 also made the cut.

"Basically I knew I could sing, but I was kind of surprised that I got chosen as two years ago I entered and I was turned down. I have to thank a contestant that heard me rehearsing and urged me to change the song. I changed the song to John Legend's So High and it worked," a pleased looking Taylor said.

Having one leg did not dampen Lola Whyte from trying out.