Maple Ridge's Iris Del Castillo is the people's choice to sing at the Variety's Got Talent contest this Friday.

Del Castillo was one of 10 people's choice finalists, and was one of two selected to perform after being "liked" by enough people on YouTube.

Del Castillo is gearing up for Friday's competition at the River Rock Casino.

"I'm actually really excited," Del Castillo said, who also studies communications at SFU. "I'm not thinking of it as a competition."

"Because it's such a big stage, I just want to enjoy the moment," she added.

Del Castillo, who speaks both English and Tagalog, likes to sing mainly pop and jazz songs.

The musicians in Variety's Got Talent are all between the ages of 13 and 29.

Del Castillo, 23, has been singing since from a young age and hopes to have a career as a musical artist.

She has recorded songs, and has entered competitions like the PNE's Red Robinson Talent Show and Port Moody Idol, which she won twice.

The top 10 finalists and the people's choice winners will perform at the River Rock Show Theatre on Friday.

The winner, selected by a panel of celebrity and industry judges, will receive a Tom Lee Rising Star Package and appear on the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon which airs live on Global BC Feb. 11 and 12.

Tickets for the talent finals are $10, available at www.varietysgottalent.ca. This is the second year the Variety Club is putting on Got Talent.