How 'The Voice' Gave Enid Ortiz A Lifelong Confidence Boost

Becoming a part of a reality television singing competition can be a bit of a surreal, wild ride. For a contestant on this season of The Voice, it was exactly the thing she needed to build confidence and really find her voice. Enid Ortiz wowed during her blind Voice auditions big time and when she spoke to Bustle over the phone, it became clear that this dedicated singer had a profound experience while filming the show. Even though she was eliminated during the second night of Knockouts, Ortiz has spent the months since then reflecting on her time on the show.

"Just getting the opportunity to be on the show, when Blake [Shelton] turned around, it was almost like a validation for me," Ortiz says. "All my life I’ve struggled with self confidence due to some issues with my vitiligo. So for me — making it on the show and the whole journey of it — I just built up this confidence from performing and loving myself and accepting myself for who I am."

Ortiz, who sang Adele's "All I Ask" during her blind auditions, was able to get Shelton to turn his chair in the last possible moments of her song. It was a nerve-wracking moment, to be sure, but it ended up paving the way for a life-changing experience on The Voice. While Ortiz has spent most of her life singing, getting that validation on The Voice was, in her words, an "eye-opener" of an experience. She continues: "Don’t let anyone’s words of your image get you down because your talent speaks for yourself. Being on the show definitely helped me accept myself for who I am."

For Ortiz, part of being who she is and living her truth meant sharing with the judges during the blind auditions that she has had vitiligo for most of her life. While the skin condition initially threw her for a loop, she found that music helped to return her confidence and give her a more positive image of herself. Sharing her truth on television has had a positive effect now, even after being kicked off the show. "I literally get messages from people who have told me, 'You are my inspiration. Your voice keeps me going,'" Ortiz says. "A lot of my vitiligo family [others in the vitiligo community] have reached out to me for talking about the condition."

Ortiz's newfound role as a voice for those living with vitiligo, as well being a role model for those who have watched her journey on The Voice, has given her a profound sense of responsibility. Looking back on it now, it would seem The Voice helped her to secure her footing in the music industry and in the world: "I feel like I have a responsibility now to portray all of these things in such a positive way with so many people looking at me and saying they believe in me," she says.

The way Ortiz sees it, "It's not like a burden; it's a blessing on your shoulders." It doesn't get more positive than that.