At just 17 years old, North Carolina native Eva Noblezada made a star-is-born entrance onto the musical theatre mainstage with a knockout performance at the Jimmy Awards. After catching the eye of the producers of the London revival of Miss Saigon, the newcomer caught a plane across the Atlantic and made her West End debut while still a student at the Northwest School of the Arts.

Here’s a look back at some of the highlights in Eva’s rise from high school prodigy to Broadway star.