We all remember Katie Waissel as the marmite of our Saturday nights back in 2010. The X Factor contestant split viewers right down the middle.
The singer stayed on the show by the skin of her teeth week after week finally being knocked out of the competition in the final weeks.
Speaking about the experience, the singer told the Daily Mail: ''It really messed me up'' she says.
‘'I felt as if 18 million people hated me and I couldn’t understand why. I didn’t know how to deal with that.''
‘'When I finished The X Factor tour after the show was over, I took some time out to rebuild my confidence. It was only when I met people such as my song-writing partner Tommy Henriksen, who is Alice Cooper’s guitarist, that I came out of my shell.''
"There always has to be a baddie among the finalists and I drew the short straw," she says.
Since the X Factor Waissel has now lost her blonde locks in favour of a new darker look and has even joined a rock band Red Velvet.
Discussing Simon Cowell and the talent show, she added: ''I’m fond of Simon and I would love to know what he thinks of it.'' ‘I’m saying: “You manipulated the situation, but it’s your TV show so why shouldn’t you?” I’m poking my tongue out and saying I know what you did. In a light-hearted way.''
''I never talked to Cheryl about it. We barely spoke. We were given our songs by Syco and only ever saw Cheryl at rehearsals the day before the live shows.''
Red Velvet will play their debut show in London tonight at Notting Hill Arts Club.
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