Helen, a full-time mom to her son Amari, lives in San Diego, California, where she practices the unique art of foot juggling. Originally from Ethiopia, Helen’s journey into this fascinating skill began when she won a scholarship to China. During her two years of study there, she mastered the intricate and captivating art of foot juggling.
Helen hopes that her appearance on “America’s Got Talent” will open doors for her to secure a residency in Las Vegas, allowing Amari to attend school while she performs.
When Helen took the stage, AGT judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara had modest expectations. However, Helen’s performance quickly changed their minds.
“[I thought] at the beginning, she’s going to be dull,” Sofia admitted. “No, this was fun. We were all super excited. I could have kept watching what you were doing. You could have juggled for me for a whole hour, and I would have been super happy. I think people are going to love you. Congratulations, Helen.”
Heidi echoed Sofia’s sentiments, saying, “It’s incredible. We have not seen anything like this before quite like the way you do it. Imagine all the crazy things that you could be juggling in the next round.”
Simon then chimed in with a humorous suggestion inspired by Heidi’s comment about crazy things. “Pizza. I really mean it because people love pizza. A giant pizza.”
Helen, embracing the playful challenge, responded, “You build it, I juggle it.”
Howie added his thoughts, praising Helen’s originality and skill. “We love seeing things we haven’t seen before. You have incredible showmanship and strength and balance. I think your career is about to take off. This is amazing. I love that you’re here.”
Simon highlighted the show’s diversity this season, saying, “What I love about the show this year is that we’re seeing acts, I’ve genuinely never seen before and I thought I’d seen it all.”
Helen, visibly moved, reflected on the judges’ praise. “That means a lot because it’s been hard. I’m a full-time mom, so it means a lot that you guys like it.”
Simon further expressed his admiration, noting, “When I see people like you and I see your daughter and how much this means to you, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Helen’s outstanding performance earned her four enthusiastic yeses from the judges, advancing her to the next round and bringing her one step closer to her dream of performing in Las Vegas.