Mandy Pickering (32), the winner of New Zealand's 2009 television series 'Stars in Our Eyes' is enjoying a family vacation in Tonga.

The popular show on NZ TVOne transforms ordinary people into pop stars. Mandy, a beauty therapist, entered and impersonated her favourite singer Canada's Sarah McLachlan and on June 30 won the contest, which was decided by text and phone votes from viewers.

On a holiday with her husband Jason and young sons Isaac (7) and Levi (5), Mandy is humble about her success despite the fact that she had never sung publicly before an audience until picked for the show.

"I grew up in a family that loved music, my parents were in a band but apart from that the only singing I did was just mugging around with my family in the garage."

She said her grandmother urged her to audition and she did it to make her happy but did not think of winning, considering there were many competitors.

"I am happy that I won but at this point in my life I am not looking at pursuing a professional singing career. My first priority now is my two boys and husband but am not ruling out a singing career later down the road."

While in Nuku'alofa Mandy performed at the Steak 'n Rock Café on Friday night.

Mandy is a Marketing Manager for Champs-Elysee Day Spa in Christchurch and looks forward to travelling to London, a part of her grand prize.