A SINGING hopeful is looking for backing from text voters to help secure her place in the finals of a nationwide talent contest.

Charlotte Silver, from Woodstock Avenue, Golders Green, has made the top 50 of the Retail Trust's Search for a Star.

And after making it through the preliminary rounds at Brent Cross Shopping Centre, the 22-year-old solo singer, who works for Harrods, needs people to vote for her via text to make it into the final ten next month.

The top four will from that audition will then sing live at the Retail Trust London Ball on January 31, where one of the acts will be crowned Retail Trust Search For A Star Winner 2011.

Charlotte, whose aunt Jane Sanig is a former principle ballerina at the London City Ballet, said: “I really am trying to pursue a career in performance.

“Getting through to the next round was amazing, it was so much fun. The opportunities that will come from this competition are so amazing and it could open up so many doors for me.

“I am just hoping for as many votes as possible. I would love it if I could get through.”

The overall prize consists of a meeting with top music industry figure heads at Mercury Music Group, recording a single courtesy of Imagesound, and a live performance at Heathrow Terminal 5 which will be beamed across World Duty Free's Media Channel, as well as a live performance in House of Fraser’s Oxford Street store window.

Nigel Rothband, chief executive of the Retail Trust said: “Talent in our industry runs deep and we had some cracking entries last year.

“I expect to see fevered competition between some big retail brands supporting their own staff and potential champions.”

To watch Charlotte's performance, visit http://www.retailtrustsearchforastar.com/videostop50.asp?id=46&start=36.

Text votes cost £1, with 75p going to the Retail Trust, a charity which looks after the needs of three million people working in retail.

To vote for Charlotte, text star 41 to 70099.