Chula Vista native Jessica Sanchez was crowned the winner of “America’s Got Talent” Wednesday, nearly two decades after she first took the stage as a 10-year-old contestant on the show’s debut season.

Now 30 and nine months pregnant, Sanchez delivered a powerhouse finale performance of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile,” earning a standing ovation and clinching the $1 million prize along with a headlining slot at AGT Live in Las Vegas.

“This has been 20 years in the making for me. This would mean everything,” Sanchez said before host Terry Crews announced her victory.

Sanchez is no stranger to the spotlight. After her first AGT audition in 2006, she rose to fame as a runner-up on “American Idol” in 2012. But her career journey hasn’t always been smooth. Speaking to the San Die

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