WATERVILLE -- Natasha Knight, an Oakland teenager, turned "I Have Nothing" into something special Saturday night.

The Messalonskee High School senior captured first place in the second annual Seize the Mic contest with her rendition of the Whitney Houston song.

"I knew there was pretty tough competition," Knight said, "and I knew that was a song I could put a lot of passion into."

Raffi Der Simonian of Waterville Main Street, organizer of the event, described Knight's performance as phenomenal and certainly a crowd pleaser for the 500 in attendance at Waterville Opera House.

Knight, who will attend Syracuse University in the fall to pursue a degree in musical theater, took home $300 in prize money.

Women also clinched second and third in Waterville's version of the hit TV reality show "American Idol," a reversal of the inaugural year of the event when three men earned top honors.

Emily French, 23, a mother of twin girls took second, and Julie Curtis, 27, a mother of two, finished third.

Der Simonian said Waterville Main Street was delighted by the talent of contestants and the enthusiasm of the audience.

"We were pleased with the attendance," he said. "I think it is an event that has the potential to be a sellout each year."

Central Maine Motors, Dairy Queen of Waterville and Vallee Real Estate sponsored the event, which started in March and culminated Saturday with a field of 15 vying to be the Seize the Mic champion.

Knight's winning performance at Waterville Opera House came only five days after she and fellow members of a Messalonskee High School choir group returned from a performance at New York City's Carnegie Hall.

"I would say this has been an amazing year for me musically," Knight said. "Going to Carnegie Hall was breathtaking."

Janie Hassen-Knight said her daughter's magical spring is well deserved.

"She hopes to be somebody who is in the lights on the big stage one day," Hassen-Knight said. "She has been working on it for 10 years. She is very true to her passion. She has, I think, a natural gift and loves to share it with the community."

Knight said Seize the Mic was an altogether different musical experience for her.

"I'm used to doing a lot of musical theater shows and productions," she said.

Knight, in fact, has been on the Waterville Opera House stage as a cast member of "Chicago," "Oklahoma," and "Fame Forever."

Seize the Mic, though, proved to be an experience much to her liking, especially the ending.

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com