Daytona Beach mayor gives keys to city to X-Factor winners Alex & Sierra

Photo for Headline Surfer® / Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry posted the above photo on his Facebook page Thursday after giving keys to the city to Alex and Sierra, winners of the X-Factor season 3 finale on Dec. 19 as shown in the YouTube video upload.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Though neither is from Daytona Beach, that didn't stop Mayor Derrick Henry from capitalizing on the PR that comes with welcoming new-found celebrities Alex and Sierra of the X-Factor reality show with keys to the city during a performance Thursday night at the bandshell on the "world's most famous beach."

About a thousand fans showed up to see the winners of the season finale, X-Factor, as they performed on a brisk night.

The first-year mayor made no bones about going all out for the young couple, telling Headline Surfer®, "For the record my support of Alex And Sierra helps promote the city. That's a big part of my job."

Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry / Headline Surfer®Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry, shown here at left, not only handed ceremonial keys to the city to thew winners of X-Factor, but also proclaimed it "Alex and Sierra Week" in the city known worldwide for its beach and Daytona International Speedway, home of the Daytona 500.

The first-year mayor made no bones about going all out for the young couple, telling Headline Surfer®, "For the record my support of Alex And Sierra helps promote the city. That's a big part of my job."

In handing over ceremonial keys to the dating 22-year-olds, New Smyrna Beach singer-guitarist Alex Kinsey and Orlando singer-pianist Sierra Deaton, winners of the season 3 finale of Simon Cowell's X-Factor and the grand prize of a $1 million recording contract, Mayor Henry also announced it was “Alex and Sierra Week” in Daytona Beach.

The crowd was ecstatic to see the couple perform for the first time locally since the season-ending show, with Alex Kinsey telling the fans, before the duo began singing: “This means the world to us. They got an even bigger cheer when he added, "“I’ve played here I don’t know how many times, and to get this sort of turnout and support and this sort of love from my hometown and the area we’re both from is absolutely incredible.”

Alex and Sierra ended their impromptu session with their version of “Say Something” by A Great Big World.

The two have been the talk of Central Florida for weeks as they moved closer and closer to winning it outright on Dec. 19. Headline Surfer® spoke with locals who have been following the young couple, who first began dating two years ago. 

Christie Beu, the second oldest of the four "Beu Sisters," the pop-rock group from New Smyrna Beach that has recorded several albums, including the acclaimed "Beu-tiful Volume I, II, & III," said she doesn't know Sierra as well as Alex, whom she and her sisters have performed with previously in local venues, described him as "humble, sweet and extremely talented."

Christie Beu of the Beu Sisters / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® / Christie Beu of the Beu Sisters, shown here near the surf in New Smyrna Beach, says she and her three siblings have performed in the past with Alex Kinsey.

Christie Beu, the second oldest of the four "Beu Sisters," the pop-rock group from New Smyrna Beach that has recorded several albums, including the acclaimed "Beu-tiful Volume I, II, & III," said she doesn't know Sierra as well as Alex, whom she and her sisters have performed with previously in local venues, described him as "humble, sweet and extremely talented."

"Alex is home grown New Smyrna Beach," said the second oldest of the four Beu Sisters, adding, "He is an amazing artist, but more importantly (amazing) person."

Another big fan of Alex is Bob Morrison of New Smyrna Beach, a 1978 graduate of New Smyrna Beach High School, who knows Alex's mom, Sandi Hardock Badali, who also graduated from NSB High a few years after him and currently works for the Volusia County Schools.

"(Alex ands Sierra) have been performing locally for a while, entered X-Factor and won," Morrison said in a matter-of-fact tone. "They seem like a great couple and they deserved to win."

Bob Morrison of New Smyrna Beach big fan of Alex & Sierra of the X-Factor / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® / Bob Morrison of New Smyrna Beach, shown here at left at Canaveral National Seashore, who went to high school with Alex's mother, is a big fan of the young couple.

"(Alex ands Sierra) have been performing locally for a while, entered X-Factor and won," Morrison said in a matter-of-fact tone. "They seem like a great couple and they deserved to win."

Did You Know?

Alex and Sieera story shoots to the top of the Google News Directory for Daytona Beach, FL / Headline Surfer®Headline Surfer® snapshot / It didn't take the 24/7 internet newspaper long to reach the top of the Google online news directory this Friday morning with the latest story on Alex and Sierra -- a mere 13 minutes.

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Community blogger Cheyenne Drews / Headline Surfer®Cheyenne Drews
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Posted Fri, 2013-12-27 05:45