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00:00Hi, I'm Aria, and I'm an international superstar.
00:03Please like and subscribe.
00:04My mom was a super successful philanthropist
00:07who ran charities and traveled the world,
00:09building schools and setting up food banks for small villages.
00:12Life with mom was great, and every evening after dinner,
00:15we would pump up our karaoke set and sing for hours.
00:18Mom sounded like a sick squirrel, but it didn't matter.
00:21We had so much fun.
00:22Aria, your voice is amazing.
00:24You really have a gift.
00:26Have you ever thought about being a singer?
00:27I'm not that good, Mom.
00:29Besides, I was hoping to run a charity like you one day
00:31so I can help people in need.
00:33Who says you can't do both?
00:34But I grew up to be a really shy kid,
00:36and no matter how good I was,
00:38singing in front of people was just not my thing.
00:40Anytime I even tried, it ended up being a major disaster,
00:44like the time I threw up on the piano guy on stage.
00:46I was known as Barf Girl for years.
00:49Mom eventually gave up on the idea
00:51of me singing professionally,
00:52but I was a pretty good student and loved literature,
00:54and things were fine.
00:56But then I turned 18, and everything changed.
00:58Mom left for one of her work trips,
01:00and a few days later, she was reported missing.
01:02While the search team still looked for her,
01:04I was sent to live with my mom's older sister, Cheryl.
01:07I'd never met my aunt before,
01:08but I knew she had a daughter my age, Zoe,
01:10and that she never got along with my mom.
01:13And I kind of figured out why
01:15the first time I met my aunt outside her mansion.
01:17She saw me and hugged me tight.
01:19Oh, my sweet girl, you must be devastated.
01:22My sister and I didn't talk much,
01:23but she's still my blood, and I can't believe she's gone.
01:28Oh, oh, oh, oh.
01:30Uh, thanks, Aunt Cheryl, but Mom's just missing, not dead.
01:33We have search teams looking for her,
01:35and I'm sure she'll be back in no time.
01:37Of course, sweetheart.
01:38Whatever makes you feel better.
01:39Zoe, why don't you sing for your cousin?
01:42Oh, sure, Mom.
01:43♪ We have a cousin who's gonna live free ♪
01:47♪ Her mom's gone missing and she's got no money ♪
01:53Wait, Aria, why are you making faces?
01:55Didn't you like my song?
01:57No, it's great.
01:58You were just off key.
02:00Nothing a little practice can't cure.
02:02And you have a very ugly face, which nothing can cure.
02:06In fact, we should put a bag on your head
02:07so it's hidden at all times.
02:09Zoe, stop being so mean.
02:11It's not Aria's fault that she's not as pretty
02:14or special as you.
02:15Now, Aria, I've made your sleeping arrangements
02:17in the attic.
02:18Also, you'll start work at 5 a.m., go to school,
02:21then you'll race home and start a second shift
02:23that ends at midnight.
02:24I'm working shifts?
02:26Why?
02:27I thought a little work could keep you distracted.
02:28You'll be Zoe's assistant.
02:30Surely you don't mind, do you?
02:31I stared at my aunt dumbfounded,
02:33hoping she was joking, but she wasn't.
02:36And the next day, I was the official errand girl for Zoe.
02:39For the entire next month, I was stuck doing her homework,
02:42washing her clothes, bringing her coffee,
02:44and hearing her god-awful voice.
02:47Aunt was really obsessed with making Zoe a pop star.
02:50She'd spend all of her money on coaches,
02:52dance teachers, and stylists.
02:54But no matter how much Zoe trained,
02:56she wasn't very good.
02:58La, la, la, la, la.
03:00She's wonderful.
03:02We need to get her on stage, like ASAP.
03:05I don't think she's ready.
03:06How about now?
03:08She's hired.
03:09Aunt Cheryl and Zoe were horrible.
03:11And even though I felt stuck in this house of morons,
03:14I decided to keep my head down and wait for Mom.
03:16The search and rescue mission was still on,
03:18and I was sure I'd have some information soon.
03:20All I had to do was remain patient.
03:23But then one day, I walked into my room
03:25and saw all my dresses on the floor.
03:27And Zoe stood in a corner prancing around
03:29with a red dress which belonged to my mom.
03:32It was the only thing I'd carried of hers
03:34and was saving it for my graduation.
03:36What do you think you're doing?
03:37Give my dress back.
03:38Why?
03:39It looks so much better on me.
03:41Where are you gonna wear it anyway, errand girl?
03:43In case you haven't noticed,
03:45you're pretty much stuck in this house as my servant.
03:47That dress belongs to my mother,
03:49and I'd rather eat dog poop than let you wear it.
03:51Besides, it doesn't even fit you properly, fatso.
03:54You did not just call me fat.
03:56Actually, I did.
03:57F-A-T, fatter, fattest.
04:00Zoe looked at me like a wildcat,
04:02and then she just started screaming.
04:04I tried to calm her down,
04:05but she went crazy and started ripping the dress apart.
04:08Just then, Aunt came running,
04:10and Zoe started complaining to her
04:11how I'd insulted her and called her fat.
04:14Look what you did.
04:14You've upset Zoe.
04:16She has a photo shoot tomorrow,
04:17and now her face will be all puffy from crying.
04:19Are you trying to ruin her career?
04:22What career?
04:22She sings like a freaking toad.
04:24You pay people to hire her.
04:26Shut up.
04:27I took you in my house, gave you food, clothes,
04:29and this is how you repay me?
04:31You're so selfish, just like your mom.
04:33If you can't behave yourself,
04:34I'll send you to an orphanage.
04:36Do you understand?
04:37Loud and clear, Cruella.
04:39Aunt stormed off angrily, and Zoe followed her,
04:41while I just sat down with the tattered pieces
04:44of Mom's dress and wailed like a baby.
04:46That day, I decided to just not talk to anyone
04:49and stay out of trouble, but life had other plans.
04:52A week later, I was sitting backstage
04:54for one of Zoe's rehearsals, reading a magazine,
04:56when Emmett sat next to me.
04:57He was Zoe's dream boat of a boyfriend
05:00and one of the hottest teen models of our age.
05:02I hate this.
05:03Yeah, she sings like a broken record.
05:05I mean, she could be better, but-
05:07Ha ha, she's not that bad.
05:09And I was talking about the cover of this magazine.
05:11I hated posing for this photo shoot.
05:13It's just so sad that all that people see is my cute face.
05:16Well, you are a model.
05:18I'm an actor too,
05:19and I'm planning to study philosophy in college.
05:22I bet no one knows that.
05:23I was surprised, but this was the first time
05:25Emmett and I had a chance to speak.
05:27We spent the next hour talking about books and hobbies,
05:30and it felt great to have a good conversation after so long.
05:33Emmett was a nice guy, but Zoe treated him like trash,
05:36bossing him around like he was her butler.
05:38This one time, Emmett came to pick Zoe up for dinner,
05:40and she made him wait two hours straight.
05:43Quick, red or white, you're not ready yet?
05:45Emmett's been waiting for like an eternity.
05:47So, he's lucky to be dating a goddess like me.
05:50Now, stop acting like Mother Teresa and pick one.
05:53Oh, forget it.
05:53You have the fashion sense of a homeless person.
05:55Zoe trotted away, making Emmett wait for another hour,
05:58and then canceled the date.
06:00Emmett was on his way out when I caught up to him.
06:02Are you okay?
06:03I'll be fine.
06:04You must be wondering, I'm such a loser, right?
06:06Zoe treats me like trash,
06:07and I'm still here for some reason,
06:09but she wasn't always like this.
06:10Zoe supported me a lot when my parents got divorced.
06:13She was my best friend,
06:14but then she got famous and things changed.
06:16But she's really annoying,
06:18and well, you're kind of perfect.
06:19I mean, you have a perfect face,
06:21like a model's perfect face.
06:23You know, like the perfect proportions of a face?
06:25That kind of perfect face.
06:27I'm not saying you're perfect for me.
06:28Sorry, I'm babbling.
06:30It's cute.
06:31Anyway, I have a shoot, so I'll see you around.
06:33Emmett winked and left,
06:34and my heart skipped like a thousand beats.
06:36He was so amazing,
06:37and the only guy who'd been nice to me since Mom left.
06:40I felt happy around Emmett,
06:41and soon, I developed a massive crush on him.
06:44But I knew I couldn't act on it,
06:45so I let my feelings slide and focused on my work.
06:48Zoe was recording a jingle for a hot dog company,
06:50and there were a lot of things to take care of,
06:52like makeup and costumes.
06:54On the main day, we were at the recording studio,
06:56and everyone was excited
06:58until Zoe started throwing tantrums.
07:00Hot dog, hot dog, it's not a real dog.
07:03What is this nonsense?
07:05I don't like these lyrics.
07:06Change it.
07:07And what's wrong with the air conditioning?
07:09My butt's sweating.
07:10Get me lemonade.
07:11You can't get anything inside the recording studio.
07:14I can, and I will.
07:16The producer refused, and Zoe kept screaming.
07:19Aunt tried to calm her down, but she didn't give a hoot,
07:22and we were all asked to leave.
07:24And the next morning,
07:24Aunt told us that Zoe had lost the contract.
07:27What is wrong with you, Zoe?
07:29I paid a lot of money to get you that contract.
07:31Are you mocking me?
07:33How dare you?
07:34Something's wrong with my voice.
07:35Aunt panicked and rushed Zoe to the hospital.
07:38The doctors did a quick test,
07:39and we found out that Zoe had screamed so much
07:42from the previous day
07:43that she damaged her vocal cords and lost her voice.
07:46The only way out was surgery
07:47and spending several months in recovery.
07:50Aunt cried, Zoe fainted, and it was a mess.
07:52The next few days were no good either.
07:54Zoe refused to talk to anyone, including Emmett.
07:57He even brought her flowers,
07:59but she smashed them over his head
08:00and slammed the door in his face.
08:02Then one day, I was doing some errands,
08:04humming as always, when someone spoke near me.
08:07That was beautiful.
08:08Aria, you should be on stage.
08:09Me?
08:10Yeah.
08:11I sing because I like it.
08:12I think you can be a superstar,
08:14maybe even bigger than Zoe.
08:16What?
08:17Emmett and I turned around and saw Zoe staring at us.
08:19I didn't mean it like that.
08:21I was just admiring Aria's-
08:22Me, me, me, shut up.
08:24I'm going through the worst phase of my life,
08:26and you're flirting with my cousin?
08:28That's it, we're through.
08:30You're just a weirdo.
08:31Anyway, I mean, who likes books?
08:33I do.
08:34Of course you do, because you're as boring as him.
08:36Maybe your mother's not lost.
08:38Maybe she left you because you bore her to death.
08:40You're crossing a line, Zoe.
08:42You're the one crossing a line.
08:43You're so far off the line,
08:45the line is a dot to you, morons.
08:47Zoe stormed off, and I turned to face Emmett.
08:50I'm sorry, I never meant to come between you two.
08:52It's not the worst thing in the world.
08:54And I kind of saw it coming.
08:55Emmett gave me a sweet smile before leaving,
08:58and I couldn't stop thinking about him all night.
09:00Now that he and Zoe had broken up,
09:02maybe I could confess my feelings for him.
09:04But I never got the chance,
09:05because after that day, things just got crazier.
09:08Turns out, aunt heard me sing too,
09:10and she wanted me to take Zoe's place in her upcoming tour.
09:13You want me to sing in front of thousands of people?
09:16Technically, I want you to sing
09:18while Zoe performs on stage.
09:20You have a good voice, but you don't have that
09:22wow factor for a successful performer.
09:24That makes it less complicated.
09:26Anyway, it's a bad idea.
09:28Please, Aria, I've already taken an advance on the tour,
09:31and if we don't follow through, organizers will sue me.
09:34I didn't want to do it, but aunt was practically begging,
09:37so I agreed, and the next day,
09:39I started practicing with Zoe.
09:40Before we knew it, the day of the tour arrived.
09:43Every night, I hid backstage
09:44while Zoe performed under the spotlight.
09:46The tour was a success, and by the end of it,
09:49Zoe had become a huge sensation.
09:51She was signing record deals, doing advertisements,
09:54and people couldn't get enough of her.
09:56But the more people praised her, the angrier she got.
09:59How does it feel to be a star from nothing?
10:01Not nothing, I did a bunch of shows
10:04before I went on that tour.
10:05Yeah, no one's interested in that.
10:07Just tell us your secret.
10:08Um, sure.
10:10Zoe got up and threw a glass of water
10:12in the reporter's face before leaving.
10:14The clip from the interview went viral,
10:16and she got a lot of hate on social media.
10:18Aunt tried to calm down the situation
10:20by paying off people to take the video down,
10:22but the damage was done.
10:24This is a nightmare.
10:25Why did you have to assault that reporter, Zoe?
10:27She was annoying me,
10:29and she kept saying that my voice is better now,
10:32like I'm not good enough on my own.
10:33What does it matter?
10:34Everyone loves you.
10:36No, they love me with Aria's voice.
10:38I'm so tired of Aria taking everything from me.
10:41First, she took away Emmett,
10:43and now she's after my fame.
10:45I'm not after anything.
10:46In fact, if I didn't sit backstage
10:48singing like an invisible elf,
10:49you wouldn't be here at all.
10:51It's not my fault if I sing better than you do.
10:53You're not better than my daughter.
10:54I was right about you.
10:56You're just like your mother.
10:57Why do you keep bringing up my mom every time?
11:00What did she ever do to you?
11:01She made my life miserable.
11:03Our parents loved her.
11:04My mother once said that your mom
11:06was the daughter she never had.
11:08I was the older child, but I wasn't enough.
11:11Your mom always tried to show people
11:13how she was oh so kind.
11:15Next to her, I was always ordinary.
11:18And now you're here,
11:19trying to do the same thing with my daughter.
11:21But I won't let you.
11:23My mom is kind.
11:24She is amazing.
11:25And she's the best mother ever.
11:27But look at you.
11:28Mom's not even here,
11:29and you're still threatened by her.
11:30So maybe it wasn't mom,
11:32but it was you, Aunt Cheryl.
11:34You and your stupid insecurities.
11:36How dare you?
11:37I...
11:38Before aunt could get another word out,
11:39I just walked out of the house
11:41and took a cab.
11:42I needed someone to talk to.
11:43So I called Emmett on the way
11:44and asked him if we could meet at the cafe.
11:46He agreed,
11:47and I just ended up telling him everything.
11:49Why did you say yes?
11:50I couldn't back out on Aunt Cheryl.
11:52As much as I hate her,
11:54she did support me after mom disappeared.
11:56But now I feel trapped,
11:58and I'm tired of singing in the shadows.
12:00Then get on that stage and own your truth.
12:03What if the audience hates me?
12:04You won't know if you don't try, right?
12:06And I'm here for you.
12:07Emmett gently squeezed my hands,
12:09and I felt confident enough
12:10to take over the world.
12:12He was right.
12:12I had to own my truth
12:14rather than crying about my situation.
12:16So the next day,
12:17while Zoe got her makeup done for her performance,
12:19I went on stage and confessed everything.
12:21Zoe is my cousin,
12:23and I've been singing in her place.
12:24Zoe came running and snatched the mic from my hand.
12:27She's lying.
12:28Oh yeah?
12:29Then let me prove it.
12:30I started singing without any music
12:32and gave the best performance of my life.
12:34I was nervous,
12:35but I closed my eyes and pictured my mom,
12:37and all my fear melted away.
12:39Once I was done,
12:40the crowd erupted in applause.
12:42Zoe and Aunt Cheryl were in shock,
12:44but I just dropped my mic,
12:46turned around,
12:47and left.
12:48The clip of my performance went viral,
12:49and everyone called Zoe a cheat and a fraud,
12:52which she totally deserved.
12:54I never met Aunt and Zoe again,
12:56but thanks to my little stint at Zoe's concert,
12:58I quickly got noticed,
13:00and a huge record label signed me on.
13:02It was difficult to sing confidently at first,
13:04but Emmett encouraged me,
13:06and I did well.
13:07Then one day,
13:08Emmett and I were headed back home,
13:09and when we got there,
13:10we saw a bunch of police vehicles lined up.
13:12I rushed inside and saw Mom waiting for me.
13:15I ran and threw my arms around her.
13:18Mom!
13:19I missed you!
13:20Where were you?
13:20My boat crashed while traveling,
13:22and I was stranded on an island,
13:24my love.
13:25The villagers on the island rescued me,
13:27but I had no memory of who I was.
13:28Slowly, I recovered and gave them your name,
13:31and here I am.
13:32You don't know how happy I am to see you.
13:34Me too, Mom,
13:35and I have so much to tell you.
13:37But before that,
13:38meet Emmett,
13:39my boyfriend.
13:39Mom smiled,
13:40and I just knew things would be A-okay.
13:43Eh eh eh eh.
13:45Eh eh eh eh.
13:46Eh eh eh eh.
13:47Eh eh eh eh.