America’s Got Talent has crowned a new winner, and her name is Jessica Sanchez. The 30-year-old singer capped off a moving, decades-long comeback journey on Wednesday night (Sept. 24) and edged out freestyle rapper Chris Turner to win AGT‘s 20th season. Sanchez had first auditioned for the show back in 2006 when she was a kid and told Billboard her hard-won emotional victory came after a lifelong dream of wanting to win the legendary talent competition.

“This has been 20 years in the making for me,” Sanchez tells Billboard. “I was on season one when I was ten years old, and just going through all those years of feeling rejected and feeling like a failure, I had to pick myself back up and believe in myself again.”

Sanchez, who embarked on this journey while nine months pregnant, absolutely dominated her last performance on Tuesday night (Sept. 23), running through a moving rendition of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With A Smile.” Judge Sofía Vergara called the performance “perfection,” and clearly, the fans agreed. Sanchez had also joined forces with aerial specialists Sirca Marea for one last performance of “Golden Hour” by JVKE, revisiting a song that snagged her a spot in the Finals.

Sanchez beat out a very strong final 10 that included Mama Duke, Micah Palace, Steve Ray Ladson, Team Recycled, LightWire, Jourdan Blue, Leo High School Choir, and the high-flying Sirca Marea — and, of course, Chris Turner.

Now, with the competition’s $1 million champion’s check in hand, as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to Universal’s new theme park Epic Universe, Sanchez couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter.

Check out Billboard’s chat with Jessica Sanchez below.

You made your first appearance on AGT when you were ten and returned again and won it this time around. What role has AGT played in your upbringing and your childhood? Why did it matter so much this time around for you to go out and try again?

The dream really started on the AGT stage. It was the biggest stage I had ever been on at that time, and it ignited a fire inside of me that just made me want to dream bigger for myself. So after I didn’t make it through, I was devastated and heartbroken, but I didn’t let that stop me. I continued to fight for my dreams, and throughout the 20 years, it’s been really hard trying to find myself as an artist and as a woman.

Now, being 30 years old and becoming a new mom, it’s transformed me. Being centered in my faith, my family, and my support system is super important. Everything has been such a blessing — it’s so similar, the feeling, but it’s definitely been a different journey.

Take me through those final moments on stage. You’re standing there next to Chris, Terry is taking the fans through both of your journeys up until this point. What was going through your mind?

Of course, everybody is there to win, and you have that hope you’re gonna win. But to be there as the final two after seeing all of these amazing talents slowly walk off the stage, you’re just like, “Wow, I really made it this far. After so many years of trying so hard.” I was getting flashbacks of ten-year-old little me. I was soaking up that moment of: “Whatever happens, I’m super proud of myself.” And doing this nine months pregnant with all of the challenges and hoops and hurdles I’ve had to get through…

But then, when I heard my name, I was hit with just a flood of emotions. Like, “Wow, is this really happening?” I’m just sobbing, and I look crazy, sound crazy, but I still cannot believe what has just happened.

What was it like taking this journey while pregnant? What were some challenges you faced as a result?

You know, the breathing, the physical challenges, the emotional challenges of being so pregnant—it has been really challenging. This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through physically and vocally. Even mentally and emotionally, I’m fighting against my hormones! And also my baby growing—it’s amazing that she’s healthy, but it’s pushing up against my diaphragm, so I kinda had to teach myself how to sing again, really.

It was super challenging, and it was discouraging a lot of the time when I felt like I couldn’t get through this song or deliver it like I usually do. But I’m super proud of myself for pushing through and believing that I’m here for a reason, that God has placed me here for a reason, and I’m just gonna do my job and hopefully America loves it.

Was there a moment where you felt it was over for you?

I think throughout the whole process, this whole season of my life, if I could sum it up into one word, it is: “Surrender.” I just completely surrendered my will over to the Lord’s. Being pregnant and doing this — I never would have thought I would be spending my first pregnancy trying to figure out how to sing and perform. It’s been really challenging, but it’s been so beautiful. I think I was just so grateful to be there, especially at the finale, sharing that stage with so many amazing talents. I was just so grateful that I was on stage with them.

How are you feeling now that this lifelong dream has been realized? What are you going to do now?

It just ended so beautifully for me, but I’m now about to enter a new season! My pregnancy is coming to an end, and I’m gonna be a mom. So I’m so excited for that chapter. I know it’s gonna be very challenging, and I’m so ready for it. Also, continuing to make music — I actually wrote a song about my pregnancy called “Two Lines” and released that. That was really intimate to me, but, you know, just continuing to pour myself into music and share that with the world, and hopefully it’s inspiring other people to pursue their dreams.

What message do you have for the young girls who watched you win last night?

Look at my life, really, on the Internet. Coming from season one, ten years old, and pushing through all the years. People have seen my journey online of the failures, of the rejections, of the mistakes I’ve made in my career. But coming to this 20 years later and never giving up on myself: It paid off. I’m still on this beautiful journey, and there are so many things happening. Nothing’s ever gonna be perfect, but the beautiful thing is it’s gonna be your journey.