Locals gather at a community center in Blackburn, Scotland, to watch Susan Boyle on TV during the final of Britain's Got Talent on May 30, 2009
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Still, in 2009, when a frumpy, hip-swinging Susan Boyle told Britain’s Got Talent judges Piers Morgan, Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden that she planned to sing “I Dreamed a Dream,” Morgan could hardly keep the smirk off his face. The reality series, which debuted in 2007, brings singers, dancers and other entertainers together in a talent-competition format. But Boyle had the last laugh when, within seconds of opening her mouth, she silenced the crowd with a beautiful rendition of the Les Misérables classic. Morgan moved her on with the “biggest yes” he’s ever given anyone on the show, and the clip of Boyle singing became one of the year’s biggest viral hits. Boyle has gone on to astounding recording success; her first album, released in 2009, debuted at No. 1 on charts around the world. She is also a favorite on TIME’s annual TIME 100 poll in which readers vote on who they think are the 100 most influential people in the world.