The Voice hopeful Xanthe Campbell knows how lucky she is to be living in Australia.
After spending her childhood years in Chicago, and surviving a school shooting, the 17-year-old is grateful to be living in a country with strong gun control policies.
As she sat in class one day, she had no idea that in the classroom next door a student had brought a gun to school. When shots were fired, they went into a hard lockdown.
After the shooting, Xanthe and her family moved back to Australia. And now, she’s determined to live her life to the fullest.
(Image: Seven)“I felt unsafe and confused,” Xanthe shares with TV WEEK. “I was not aware of what was happening until I heard the police yelling at the student outside my classroom.”
While Xanthe was contemplating the severity of the situation, for those around her, it felt common place.
“I was feeling incredibly nervous and perplexed because my classmates and teacher almost made it seem like it was just a joke,” she says.
“The experience made me realise how desensitised I was about the gun control in American schools. It was almost like it was a normality to have a hard lockdown.
“This experience shaped how I see these problems from a different perspective now and how to remain grateful for my safety.”
After this experience, Xanthe and her family moved back to Australia. And now, she’s determined to live her life to the fullest.
“The Voice was a quite a spontaneous thing for me as I applied in the last hour before the cut off,” she admits.
More The Voice hopefuls to watch out for
Finnian Johnson
Finnian Johnson has always loved singing but when the 19-year-old’s mother died unexpectantly two years ago, it became his last priority. After moving in with his older sister Erin, she suggested he find his voice again.
“Erin is my best friend. We did everything together when I was growing up, including karaoke, and we still spend so much time together now,” he says.
“I think Erin encouraged me to sing again because she knows it’s what I need to do. Everyone has things they work towards in life, and mine has always been my passion of music.”
Cassidy is a huge Guy Sebastian fan, and the opportunity to share a stage with him would be a dream come true.
(Image: Seven)Cassidy Mackie
Law graduate Cassidy Mackie hasn’t always watched The Voice. In fact, it wasn’t until Melbourne lockdown in 2021 that she came across the show.
“I was blown away by the talent, the genuine care shown by the coaches and the overall positive atmosphere!” she says.
“It lifted our spirits, and I thought, ‘you know what, why not throw my hat in the ring? Who knows what could happen?'”
Cassidy is also a huge Guy Sebastian fan, and the opportunity to share a stage with him if she makes it through to the finals would be a dream come true.
