Final excitement for X Factor acts

3:07pm Tuesday 7th October 2008

X Factor contestants have told of previous battles against bullying, attempts to tone up and relationships with the judges.

Now the final 12 acts have been selected, the singers spoke about their excitement at performing before an audience on the ITV1 show, which has number one hits as its theme this week.

But Girlband singer Marisa Billitteri, 19, from Bristol, broke down in tears as she described how she was bullied as a youngster over her singing aspirations. She said: "It really did knock me back... I thought I'm going to go for it. I became stronger as a person when I met the girls."

Alexandra Burke, 20, said she had also been bullied when she was younger, after taking part in a local singing competition and also appearing on Jane MacDonald's Star For a Night, in which she was beaten by Joss Stone. She said: "It improved as the years went on," and in a message to bullied youngsters, she said: "Don't give up... You have something strong inside you."

Bad Lashes band member Emily MacNamee, 19, told how she auditioned for the show a couple of years ago but did not make it through. She said that in the meantime she had taken out a loan to set up a coffee shop in Newcastle, which her mother has been running, loyally promoting the band on a menu board outside. The singer joked: "I'm still paying the loan back now, so hopefully we'll win."

The girls were partially inspired to name the band due to their love of Bad Gal mascara by Benefit cosmetics. Bandmate Samantha Bennett, 21, described their image as a cross between Arctic Monkeys and Girls Aloud. The girls said their song on Saturday will be in a glam rock-style.

The groups are being mentored this year by Louis Walsh, who was praised by contestants JLS. The band said their new-found fame has gained them some attention, but singer Marvin Humes, 23, said: "When girls ask you to sign their chest area it's a bit wrong."

Daniel Evans, 38, whose wife died shortly after the birth of their baby girl, said he was "enjoying every second" of the show. He told how he is on a keep fit regime and has lost three quarters of a stone, but joked: "I'm still carrying my baby weight."

Ruth Lorenzo, 25, said she had spoken to mentor Dannii Minogue for an hour on the phone after it was publicly revealed she had made it through, adding: "She was really nice."

And former bluecoat Scott Bruton, 19, told how his mentor Simon Cowell has been busy in Los Angeles, but said he regularly kept in touch through his personal assistant. He said the last time he saw Cowell was in Barbados, adding he is "such a gentleman, such a really nice guy".

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