India, July 27 -- Singer Jyotirmayee Nayak lifted the Indian Idol 16 winner's trophy on Sunday. Reflecting on the milestone, the singer says the victory has brought immense joy, but also the realisation that a much bigger journey lies ahead.

Looking back at her time on the singing reality show, Nayak shares how she often battled self-doubt, discovered her musical versatility, found inspiration in judge Shreya Ghoshal, and emerged with a renewed belief in herself.

"It is just an overwhelming experience for me. I'm happy, grateful and filled with gratitude," says Nayak, adding that despite emerging as the winner, she was never confident about making it to the finale. "The people supporting me were always more sure than I was. I was always...