Madeleine Ponferrada Performs on X-Factor after her Father Dies

The Niece of Mick Fanning, Madeleine Ponferrada, made a shocking and emotional debut on the X-Factor just after her father's sudden death.

Actually, the entire year has been crazy for the Sydney teenager, from her uncle being attacked by a shark to her father dying a few short month later. However, this did not stop her from taking the stage in the X-Factor Australia, drawing on her emotional strength to put on a performance in their honor.

Ponferrada wants to make her dad proud, which is the reason she went on the show in the first place. He just loved to hear me sing, she told The Sunday Telegraph. Plus, uncle Mick is a huge inspiration, after everything he went through he still lives life to the fullest.

Madeleine will perform Birdy’s Wings, which is her version of this song by the Brit singers. She hopes to be an event coordinator or pop singer after graduation from the Campbelltown Performing Arts High School.

The feminine name Madeleine is the French form of Magdalene, which is from the title that means “of Magdala”. It became popular after Mary Magdalene, who was from the New Testament. She received the name because she was from Magdala, which is a village found on the Sea of Galilee whose name means “tower” in Hebrew. She was cleansed by Jesus of evil spirits, and then stayed with his ministry, being a witness to both the crucifixion and resurrection.

Mary Magdalene was a popular saint during the Middle Ages, and that is when the name started to become common. The name Madeleine is the traditional English spelling.