Out of more than 100 hopefuls, three Placer County women are in the running to open for Jingle Ball, a national tour of hit pop singers. Each with a different sound, they are vying for votes through 5 p.m. on Nov. 22 on www.endonline.com for a chance to be the opening act for Jingle Ball at the Memorial Auditorium on Dec. 1, as well as a recording session with Rock Inc., Sacramento’s School of Rock and a photo package courtesy of John Robert Powers. The winner will sing before an audience of thousands and take the stage before artists like “Boys Like Girls,” Justin Bieber and Jason Derulo.

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Chelsie Skidgel, 21 Rocklin

Rocklin resident Chelsie Skidgel won judges over with her rendition of “At Last,” by Etta James and said she’s been singing for as long as she can remember.

“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t (singing),” she said. “My mom jokes that I came out singing tunes.”

And since, she’s been gracing karaoke stages sharing her voice with others. Moments before showtime, Skidgel said she gets “super excited.”

“When it’s just two people, I clam up, but when you give me a microphone, I just love it,” the Rocklin High graduate said.

What she loves about singing is its universal language.

“Everybody’s voice is different,” she said. “It’s another way of expression.”

Currently, Skidgel works at Lori’s Little Shack by the Railroad Track on Pacific Street and is an apprentice at Red Dragon, a tattoo parlor in Rocklin. But she has big dreams of becoming a famous singer and hopes this will help jumpstart her singing career.

“This has been a dream of mine for a long time,” she said. “I know how to handle a microphone and I know how to rock a show.”

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Kayla Bryans, 21

Roseville

Kayla Bryans of Roseville starting singing at age 9 to a LeAnn Rimes CD, she said. In 2002 she sang for a large crowd at A Capital Fourth concert in Washington D.C. along with singer Aaron Carter, she said. Bryans said she also sings locally in Roseville as well as in Los Angeles occasionally. Currently, she teaches private voice lessons to people locally.

If chosen to be the Jingle Ball Star Search opener, Bryans said she’ll probably choose to sing a Gretchen Wilson song, “just because it gets the crowd going.”

Bryans said she admits to nerves creeping in before stage time, but once she hits the stage, it turns to excitement.

“It kind of puts you in another place,” she said. “It’s something I’m passionate about.”

But why should people vote for Bryans? She said she deserves votes because she knows how to work the stage and make it enjoyable for the crowd.

“I’ll put on a show,” she said. “I go up there and have fun.”

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Jordan Hardy, 17 Roseville

Jordan Hardy of Roseville is the youngest of the 10 contenders, at age 17. She won over judges at the casting call held at the Galleria at Roseville Oct. 25 with performances of “Power of Love” by Celine Dion and “Superwoman” by Alicia Keys – one of her favorite singers.

“I want to be the next big Alicia Keys,” Hardy said.

Hardy admits to singing Alicia Keys and Selina songs in the shower – but in Spanish – and said she’s been singing “since I could walk.”

“I just enjoy singing,” Hardy said. “It helps me release my emotions.”

Not only can Hardy sing, she also writes her own lyrics stemmed from her relationships, friendships and what’s going on in her life as a high school student at Woodcreek Oaks High School.

As for what she’d sing if chosen as the opener, she said that’s a surprise. But she promises it will be good.

“Because, if you want to party, vote for Jordan Hardy,” she said. “I’m very good at entertaining people.”