Following an energetic performance of the Bon Jovi hit, It's My Life, the Billabong High School Year 12 student has made it through to the 2025 Australian Idol top 3, securing a place in the competition’s grand finale.

Iilysh is one of just 1,500 residents of the south-east Murray region town of Culcairn and has her hometown cheering her on from 500kms away.

Sweet chilli and mango 'Iilysh sausages' at Culcairn Butchery and posters on the milk fridge at Culcairn Foodworks are just some of the many ways the Culcairn community has been supporting their girl Iilysh through her Australian Idol journey.

Her Billabong High School music teacher, Sandra Taylor, has watched each performance throughout the competition from the sidelines alongside Iilysh’s parents, Melissa and Ross.

As a thank you to the community for its support, Illysh dedicated the Bon Jovi hit to the people of Culcairn.

“It was such a special song because I could connect with it so well," she said.

“Culcairn has done so much to get me here today and it was so special to get out here and do it. I don’t think I could have done any of this without them.”

Culcairn Butchery’s Stewart Weily said that since Illysh made it into the top 12, they had “struggled to keep up with making” the speciality snags.

Iilysh told the Idol judges that, through her music, she wanted to “inspire others and share in emotions, feelings, topics and statements”.

In November 2024, the Billabong High school captain took to the Qudos Bank Arena stage as a Featured Artist in her Schools Spectacular debut.

The Australian Idol finale week starts this week on Channel 7.