Amber Riley

With a voice that refused to be silenced and a talent too big to be ignored, there was no doubt that Amber Riley was destined to be a star. Television viewers were blown away with her portrayal of the feisty Mercedes Jones on the hit show "Glee" (Fox, 2009 -15), a wickedly funny and endearing series from "Nip/Tuck" (FX, 2003-10) creator Ryan Murphy about a group of talented misfits who populate the struggling glee club. Riley revealed her inner diva as Jones, the sassy, loud and take-charge alto who has a crush on the club's ultra-fashionable member who also happens to be a gay man. The show's humorous sub-plots and extravagant musical performances brought Riley's commanding voice to the forefront, making her a standout in the show every time she belted out a number and left the rest of the cast in her wake.