This year's X Factor-style industry competition, The Next Big Thing was one of the best yet and the winner Iona Thomas was loved by both the audience and the judges.
Battling her way through the competition's second heat at Café de Paris in January, the musician once again wowed the judges - which included Lyden Bugler, events manager for British Airways, Liz Lockard, senior events manager at Haymarket Awards and Adam Sternberg, manging director for Sternberg Clarke - at the semi-final and final at International Confex.
In a talent-filled final Thomas beat singer Adam Duffield, bastketball trickster Andrew Wilding and dancer Simone Thompson.
She walks away with £1,000 and a contract with Sternberg Clarke, and a glowing endoresment from the event industry.
Created by Sternberg Clarke, International Confex and Event, The Next Big Thing's former contestants have been finalists in both Britain's Got Talent and the X Factor.
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