AGT: Simon Cowell Reunites with Teen Whose Scoliosis Surgery He Funded to Save Her Dance Career

Julia Carlile and her Mersey Girls dance troupe competed on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ for the first time, and her openness about potentially career-ending scoliosis inspired Simon to pay for her surgery

Warning: This post contains spoilers from the latest episode America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League.

Simon Cowell had a sweet reunion with the young woman whose life he changed forever in the latest episode America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League.

During Monday’s episode American talent spinoff, Julia Carlile and her Mersey Girls dance troupe took to the stage for the first time while competing on judge Mel B’s fantasy team.

While Mel B was excited to see young women competing for the first time Britain has talent, performed their dance number, it was Simon who was especially happy for them as he helped pay for Julia’s scoliosis surgery in 2017.

“We’ve been dancing together since we were literally little kids and it’s what we’ve all wanted to do as a career,” explained Julia, who turns 22 later this month. “That ended up not happening for me. I was diagnosed with a condition called scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine, and I was told that my dancing career would be over after surgery to fix it. So we were like, ‘Let’s go out with a bang before my operations’, so we signed up Britain has talent. Then we ended up on the show and I met Simon. And it completely changed my life.”

Mersey Girls on ‘America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League’.

Trae Patton/NBC

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In the video package, Julia explained that her dance group “had the best time dancing” on Britain has talent stage and receiving the Golden Buzzer from judge Alesha Dixon. Although they did not win the competition, Julia got something better – the chance to continue dancing.

“There was an operation here in America which meant I would be able to dance afterwards, but it was over in America, I’m from the UK, so Simon said he would help me get that operation,” she explained. “That’s how he kicked me out. My dream was taken from me, and in a split second, Simon just gave me that dream back. Now I can dance, for the rest of my life.”

According to Daily Mail, Simon paid £175,000 ($223,000) for surgery to straighten Julia’s spine. Since then, she has undergone several more procedures, some of which she documented on social networks.

Mersey Girls on ‘America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League’.

Trae Patton/NBC

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Now that Julia had recovered, she could dance again. Inspired by their story, Mel B decided to include them in her fantasy team for AGT spinoff.

“When we found out we were on Mel B’s dream team, we were over the moon,” the Mersey Girls Cara member said in a video package before their dance.

The honest story also impressed judge Howie Mandel, who told Simon before their performance: “Wow, mate. This is not your child and you took care of her. I’m really impressed.”

Simon Cowell on ‘America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League’.

Trae Patton/NBC

After dancing an emotional number to “Trust Fall” by Pink, and the girls were moved to tears after the performance, the judges gave their honest feedback – not all of it positive.

“It was really good, and it’s a nice story and I’m really touched… but I don’t know if it’s great,” said Howie, while Julia politely replied, “I have two metal rods in my spine, I tried.”

“You are fantastic and I am very proud of you, young lady,” he then explained.

Heidi Klum agreed, telling the group, “You dance like a well-oiled machine…but I find it a bit snooyy.”

Mel B and Simon, however, disagreed with their comment. Mel B pointed out how “all these girls stuck together” despite Julia’s almost career-ending surgery, and Simon praised them for their attitude and perseverance.

“I love performers who want to win, who put in the hours and get better, and that’s what you did tonight,” he said. “Mel is right – a lot of other people would have just said goodbye and moved on without you, but they didn’t. They stuck with you… I think you’re going to inspire a lot of people, and I think the audience will vote for you because you deserve it.”

Simon then took the stage and hugged the group after their performance.

Mersey Girls on ‘America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League’.

Trae Patton/NBC

But while he and Mel B had confidence in the dance group, unfortunately they didn’t get the same support from America when it came time to vote.

Animal actors Adrian Stoica and Hurricane from Season 18 of Simon’s Team, singer Sheldon Riley from Season 15 and Britain has talent season 13 acrobats The Vardanyan Brothers from Team Mel B, season 18 aerialist Grace Good from Heidi’s team, and comedian Preacher Lawson from Howie’s team, who competed in season 12, AGT: Champions season 1 i BGT: Champions.

The Golden Buzzer of the night went to Season 18’s Ramadhani Brothers Ramadhani Brothers, who were originally on Heidi’s team but were stolen by Howie.

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America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League airs Mondays at 8:00 PM ET on NBC.

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Source: HIS Education