Makiyah Mustiful, a 24-year-old from Pine Bluff with big dreams of becoming a singer, has advanced to American Idol’s live auditions.
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — 24-year-old Makiyah Mustiful, who has been singing since childhood, has earned her golden ticket to the big leagues. Recently, she advanced to the live auditions of American Idol after stumbling across a last-minute audition ad on Facebook.
“I have been singing since as long as I can remember,” Mikayah said. “I grew up singing in church with my family.”
Raised in Pine Bluff, Makiyah said music has always been a part of her life through her family church. After graduating from high school and college, she began performing at local gigs in Pine Bluff, Little Rock, and surrounding areas— but her path to national television came unexpectedly.
“I was lying in the bed one night, scrolling on Facebook, and I saw an ad for Arkansas registrations for American Idol,” she explained. “I clicked on it just to see, you know, is this real? Is this fake?”
To her surprise, she found that it was real, and there was one spot left for the very next day. So Makiyah decided to audition.
“I took a leap of faith,” she said. “Auditioned with the producers behind the scenes, and I made it to the live auditions to audition in front of, you know, the judges, Lionel, and it has just been a wonderful experience.”
Makiyah credits American Idol for jump-starting some of the biggest household names in the music industry, and now she hopes to follow in those same footsteps.
“I think little Makiyah, she’s like, running around in circles right now,” she said. “It’s unbelievable. Like, you’re really doing this. You’re really a part of American Idol.”
As a Pine Bluff native, Makiyah said that representing her hometown on a national stage carries special meaning.
“To be a 24-year-old girl from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, it is just amazing,” she said. “Pine Bluff is home, always has been, always will be. To put Pine Bluff on the map and make sure its name is known worldwide, just that, in itself, just excites me. It makes me emotional.”
Makiyah said support from her hometown has been overwhelming, with residents rallying behind her both locally and online. She has seen rapid growth across her social media platforms, with messages pouring in from across Arkansas and beyond.
“It’s breathtaking,” she said. “Just to see the support not only from Pine Bluff but from the entire state of Arkansas, it makes me feel really loved. It lets me know Arkansas is behind me every step of the way.”
While Makiyah dreams of progressing to the American Idol finale, she said that no matter what happens, her music career isn’t ending with American Idol.
“If all else fails, I do plan to just continue in my music career and continue to push forward,” she added. “Use all of the momentum that American Idol has given me and all of my resources, and try to still strive and go forward and push in my music career. Hopefully, this could be a full-time thing after.”
Makiyah said that her vocals aren’t just limited to one genre; however, R&B and soul have her heart.
“I love gospel music,” she said. “But the music I want to put out is R&B, very soulful. I want to give modern vibes but also that ‘80s and ‘90s feel.”
As for what’s next, Makiyah said she is currently writing her own music while working with others on new material. As she continues her journey, Makiyah added that she remains grateful.
“Arkansas. Thank you for all of your support,” she added. “Continue to support me!”