America’s Got Talent: The Champions just finished airing its second season--and the talent lineup did not disappoint. Contestants across the AGT and Got Talent franchise (whether winners, finalists, or acts that made it to the live rounds) fought for a spot in the final episode, where the winner is granted a cash prize and the prestigious title of “World Champion.” The spin-off--hosted by Terry Crews and judged by Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Alesha Dixon--is not held live like AGT; instead, shows are pre-recorded and votes are given by “superfan” representatives from each of the fifty states in America. Below, some of Season 2’s standout teams--including the winning act, V.Unbeatable--give readers a glimpse at their recent experience.

Why did you decide to go on America's Got Talent: The Champions? 

V.Unbeatable: We participated in AGT with one goal, and that was to fulfill the dream of Vikas [editor’s note: Vikas was a former member of the dance group who passed away]. We wanted the world to know about Vikas’ story. When we heard that we placed fourth in the competition, we were very upset and heartbroken, but then we heard about Champions and decided to do it again for him and our country. We really believe life is about second chances. 

The Silhouettes (answers by Lynne Waggoner-Patton, owner and director): There was no question about saying yes to being on one of the greatest stages in the world. America's Got Talent completely changed my world and opened doors beyond my greatest dreams or expectations. I was in shock when I received the initial invitation from AGT and didn't say anything about it to my cast until I received the official invitation. Being able to offer the next generation of Silhouette children the opportunity to stand on the AGT stage is a huge gift that will enhance their lives forever. 

Duo Destiny: We grew up watching AGT and dreamed that one day we could be part of it, even though we thought it would be impossible. We wanted to experience being on the stage of one of the biggest TV shows in the world. When we received the offer to be part of Champions, we couldn’t believe it. We were actually super afraid of what the American audience’s reaction would be, as we’ve never performed on American TV.



How did your act upgrade from the previous time you were on the show? 

V.Unbeatable: We gave our best to the people and beloved judges, and we pushed ourselves even harder than last time. The love and support from the people boosted our confidence even more.

The Silhouettes: When we were on AGT in 2011, we used a great deal of dancing to fill the time, and the stories weren't as intricate and detailed as what we were asked to bring to the Champions stage. When I received the invitation, I thought it wouldn’t be as hard as it was in 2011 because I’ve worked on perfecting the craft and improving through hundreds of performances. I have to say that Champions pushed me to a whole new level of storytelling that I wasn't expecting but am very grateful for. I constantly tell my cast that if there’s no growth, there’s no life, and I definitely grew as a director and choreographer through the Champions process. The stories we were able to bring to the Champions stage were meaningful and powerful, and they address very important aspects of life. I can't thank the AGT producers enough for allowing me to tell stories that have already had a positive impact on people around the world, especially veterans with PTSD who have been reaching out to us with gratitude for our performance.  Many of them are stating they are "tough-as-nails," hardcore military men who never shed a tear, and our performance had them crying like babies. What a great moment to have been able to honor the men and women who keep us safe.  

Duo Destiny: In this act, we decided to risk even more. We completely changed the style to show the judges that we can play with other cards.

What was your favorite part about competing on Champions? 

V.Unbeatable: Getting the chance to meet the champions from worldwide and performing for people once again.

The Silhouettes: All of it! Well maybe not the 32 stairs at the theater to get up to the dressing room area, but every single moment is treasured. The looks on the faces of my rookie cast when they had their first B-roll filming; the excitement when Howie Mandel walked onto the rehearsal stage to introduce himself and praise the kids for their work; the rides with the awesome van drivers who battled major traffic to get us where we needed to be; the support staff's sweet faces as we walked up the steps to get our daily schedule; the kindness from our producer Liza who helped us immensely with her advice and expertise; having our producer Nigel from 2011 show up on set to help guide us through the finals and celebrity show (there are no words adequate to describe how much that meant to me); the kind comments from the judges; the unbelievable tech and production crew who set up our screen and projector (we love you Nate!) and cheered for us as we performed; the incredible backstage crew and managers who made the children in the cast feel comfortable and at ease; the makeup and hair stylists who tried to cover up my wrinkles and black eye (I got one during rehearsals); the camera crew who created spectacular scenes for every act; the audience’s standing ovations with heart hands (beyond incredible); and the positive messages from audience viewers, especially those with dogs and service dogs. What an incredible journey. 

Duo Destiny: Our favorite part was meeting all the other incredible talents and sharing the stage with them. It was so much fun to see the variety of acts that this show brings together.

What was the most challenging part? 

V.Unbeatable: The most challenging part was giving each performance our best. We rehearsed for 10 to 12 hours because it meant a lot to us, and people expected more this time around.

The Silhouettes: Over the past nine years, I’ve been able to create hundreds of shows using photo overlay, dance, and messaging. Champions pushed me to tell a story without all of the "special" items; that was actually more difficult, but--in the end--more rewarding. They know their audience, and they brought me back to true storytelling. I was extremely nervous about my cast because most of them had never been on a television set before, and they were already nervous. Changing the show numerous times with a very short turnaround could have been a disaster, but they stepped up and made it happen. We strive to be a "yes we can" company, and those little rookies made it happen!

Duo Destiny: We’re acrobats and normally have one style and a number of exercises. The most challenging part was trying to change the style and exercises in such a short amount of time. We spent so much time giving interviews and recording that sometimes, we didn’t have all the time that we wanted to prepare our number.

What was one of your favorite acts you watched backstage on Champions? 

V.Unbeatable: Everyone was excellent with their talents. We can't choose one act!

The Silhouettes: It’s so difficult to choose! Every act took my breath away. I would be in the makeup chair and hear one of the acts sing and start to tear up because it was so beautiful! I loved Hans, mainly because he was fearless. I loved little JJ [Pantano] because he is so cute with his personality. Connie [Talbot] is out-of-this-world beautiful. Boogie Storm was heart-pounding with their sheer force. [Emil] Rengle was super kind to my cast off set and is a very kind human being. Voices of Service moved me to tears on stage and serenaded me in the green room (I got goosebumps). I can’t believe what Strauss Serpent can do. I love Christian and Percy because of the really cute doggies. Miki Dark is just plain creepy in a good way. Alexa [Lauenberger] is the sweetest little girl I've ever met, and her performance with her amazing dogs is over the top. Sandou Trio Russian Bar made me drop to the floor as I watched their rehearsal. V.Unbeatable’s spectacular performance still leaves my heart pounding. Brian Joseph King is a brilliant artist that’s going to change the world with his passionate music. There are so many more acts to acknowledge, but those are the highlights, and The Silhouettes are truly honored to share the AGT stage.

Duo Destiny: Duo Transcend was one of our favorite acts, not just because of the crazy and beautiful things that they did, but also because we know how hard the circus artist reality is on these kinds of TV shows. They did an amazing job managing everything.



What's up next for you after the show? 

V.Unbeatable: We have many shows lined up, and we’re getting invitations from all over the world to perform. We can see a bright future ahead.

The Silhouettes: The Silhouettes are working on a children's shadow show for our YouTube channel that’s educational, inspiring, and interactive. We plan to change the world one shadow at a time, and we believe that if we can offer children hope through our show, we’ll be able to make a difference. We also have several corporate bookings and will be presenting our 70-minute Heroes Tribute show honoring first responders, active military, and veterans, as well as service dogs for veterans with PTSD. Because of Champions and the unexpected Golden Buzzer moment (which we still can't believe!), I’m receiving many booking requests, so we’ll be busy! Our last mission was to raise funds to secure a service dog for a little six-year-old boy in Spokane, Washington who lives with severe epilepsy. We were able to meet that goal right before Christmas through our corporate performances and donations from our clients, and now we’re working on securing a service dog for a young girl in Denver who also suffers from epilepsy. I also launched a Dance Class With Miss Lynne series on our YouTube channel for children who aren’t able to take a formal dance class. The series shows children how to dance, even if they’re in a wheelchair, and we also give shoutouts to children in need or organizations that help children in each episode. Our goal is to reach as many children as we can with positive messaging, and Champions is helping us make that a reality!

Duo Destiny: We’re looking to open doors in the American market, as we’ve never really worked in the States. We signed a contract with Moulin Rouge in Paris, a place that we completely love. We’ll also be in Ibiza and Dubai for a few months.

Follow the Contestants on Instagram:

V.Unbeatable: @v.unbeatable_official_india

The Silhouettes: @silhouettesint

Duo Destiny: @duo_destiny_

Photo Credit: NBC