This 'American Idol' Contestant Who Auditioned in Drag Is Inspiring AF

Adam Sanders auditioned for American Idol season 12 back in 2013 when he was just 19 years old. He made it through to the top 50, but was then cut. Five years later, the openly gay singer auditioned in drag as Ada Vox.

"Being [initially] told 'No'—it was heartbreaking, but truth of the the matter is that I wasn’t ready," Adam said.

After his first attempt at becoming the next American Idol, Adam was harrassed and bullied on social media every day.

"People attacked my weight, my sexuality, telling me that I was horrible, that I sucked, that I don’t deserve to be here, that I shouldn’t be who I am," said Adam. "And I let it get to me in a wrong way. It killed me inside. It killed me inside almost as much as people were telling me that I should kill myself."

The hate he received from American Idol viewers brought him to the brink of suicide.

"I was contemplating a lot of things I shouldn’t have. I kinda disappeared from the world for a while. And in doing that, I hurt myself even more. That’s really when I was at my worst thinking. Maybe I’m not worth the fixing. Maybe I’m not worth another try."

But in the end, he overcame the hate, rising like a phoenix from the ashes.

"But through all of the negativity, I have managed to build myself as a new person. A stronger person. I’ve recreated myself in ways I could not have imagined."

Now he’s ready to show the world the strong, confident, and beautiful person he has blossomed into!

Listen to Adam (Ada) audition with a tender, yet powerful rendition of "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals in the video below!