After months of hard work and grueling competitions, FanShawn Taylor is the 2016 Music Masters champion.

Taylor was declared the champion after successfully completing two rounds of vigorous competition. Her song, “Dig Up the Road” was also voted best Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Road Fever song.

Leading up to the competition, FanShawn said she had no trouble practicing and rehearsing for the finals.

“The practice was not a difficult process at all, the only thing I wished was for the sound system to have been working properly the night of the finals.” Taylor said.

“Other than that the band was awesome and practicing with them was a breeze.”

As the winners were announced, Taylor said reality took a while to set in.

“I didn’t know I won until I saw my name on the cheque because so many things were running through my mind while Mr. Munnings announced the winner,” she said.

“I was shocked, overjoyed, light headed and my knees even gave out. I begged Mr. Dames not to let go of me because I couldn’t stand.”

With the competition a faint memory, FanShawn is now focused on her future in the industry and showing the world what she’s capable of.

“I am more focused on making an album right now as opposed to just putting out singles. I want to give the people more to listen to and show more versatility,” she said.

As the winner of the Music Masters competition, FanShawn will be provided with an opportunity to have her hit song, “Dig Up Da Road” recorded and produced by a renowned producer.

She will also have the chance to have Sony design the cover artwork for her single, coordinate a digital promotional tour in the United States and Latin American markets and create a widespread social media branding strategy for one year.

Freddie Munnings, Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) member, said the commission would do their best to assist FanShawn in signing a contract.

“Whether it is with Sony or otherwise we hope to sign her to an international contract,” Munnings said.

“We create the environment for the discussions and it is up to her to sign the contract. At the end of the day, it’s her career and she’ll have the final word on it.”

Although, FanShawn isn’t absolutely positive about her next steps she’s excited to see where her career is going to take her.

“I see myself going wherever my voice takes me. I believe strongly that what is for me will be for me.”