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With the newest season of The X Factor USA kicking off over the past weekend, the judges are back to look for some new and fresh talent.
The behemoth task of sifting through thousands of hopefulls to find the next big thing, may seem a big task, but LA Reid, Simon Cowell, Demi Levato and Britney Spears sure have their work cut out for them.
In X Factor's it is not always about winning, and many hopefuls have used the show's massive platform to create a big name for themselves.
We take a look at some of the past X Factor winners and finalists who have gone on to reach fame:
OLLY MURS
Runner up in the 6th Season of the UK X Factor that aired in 2010, Olly Murs took quite a while to establish himself in the international music scene.
Since then he has successfully released his first album titled In Case You Didn't Know with singles such as Dance with Me Tonight, and in 2011 released the UK's hit of the summer Heart Skips a Beat.
Take a look at Olly's audition for X Factor UK:
ALEXANDRA BURKE
Being labelled as the "not as good" Leona Lewis, the winner of the UK X Factor Season 5 in 2008 has proved many people wrong.
Best known for revealing the appalling taste of the record-buying British public when her cover of the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah rocketed to number one, she broke the European record for most copies sold in 24 hours as it did so.
Her debut album Overcome was released in October 2009 and made it to number one, while her second album Heartbreak on Hold was released in 2012.
Look at Alexandra's X Factor audition here:
CHER LLOYD
It was second time lucky for Cher Lloyd who stormed the 7th season in 2011, who was only 16 years old and full of attitude.
She only came fourth but her train to fame did not stop there.
Soon after she released her single Swagger Jagger which despite receiving negative reviews, entered at number one on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Irish Singles Chart.
Watch Cher's auditon here:
REBECCA FERGUSON
Ranking second in the seventh series of the UK X Factor, Rebecca Ferguson proved that she had much more to her than just a measily second place.
Since the showed finished in 2011, Rebecca has gone on to release her first studio album Heaven, which ended up on the tenth spot of the UK Singles Chart.
Her second, as yet untitled album is yet to be released later this year.
Take a look at Rebecca's audition:
ONE DIRECTION
They are easily the biggest boyband in the world right now but Niall, Liam, Harry, Zayn and Louis all auditioned as solo artists for the seventh season of X Factor UK. They were thrown together as a group in the Bootcamp-round of the show.
Placing third, the group has since then gone on to sign with Simon Cowell's record label and were the big winners at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2012 for their smash hit What Makes You Beautiful.
Their debut album Up All Night has already sold more than 12 million copies, with their second studio album Take Me Home setting records on the USA Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Take a look at one of the performances in X Factor:
LEONA LEWIS
The big beast of X Factor, and probably the only one to achieve real stardom, Leona was the winner of season 3.
Leona's brand of pop-infused R&B has brought her three Grammy nominations and several million record sales on both sides of the Atlantic. Bleeding Love, her second single, reached number one on the US Billboard Chart, and earned her a career-boosting appearance of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
She is currently working on a third as yet untitled album, scheduled for release next year.
Watch Leona's audition video here:
SHAYNE WARD
The winner of season 2 in 2005 was hailed as the new Justin Timberlake, but Shayne went on to prove that he is more than that.
Shayne was the first lasting X Factor success story. His debut singleThat's My Goal became the fourth fastest selling UK single ever and his first, self-titled, album also reached the top spot.
Even more unexpectedly, his second album also sold well. Currently Shayne is working on his third album.
Watch his audition here:
*Which X-Factor contestant is your favourite? Did we miss anybody on the list? Send us a mail with your thoughts and get published.
The behemoth task of sifting through thousands of hopefulls to find the next big thing, may seem a big task, but LA Reid, Simon Cowell, Demi Levato and Britney Spears sure have their work cut out for them.
In X Factor's it is not always about winning, and many hopefuls have used the show's massive platform to create a big name for themselves.
We take a look at some of the past X Factor winners and finalists who have gone on to reach fame:
OLLY MURS
Runner up in the 6th Season of the UK X Factor that aired in 2010, Olly Murs took quite a while to establish himself in the international music scene.
Since then he has successfully released his first album titled In Case You Didn't Know with singles such as Dance with Me Tonight, and in 2011 released the UK's hit of the summer Heart Skips a Beat.
Take a look at Olly's audition for X Factor UK:
ALEXANDRA BURKE
Being labelled as the "not as good" Leona Lewis, the winner of the UK X Factor Season 5 in 2008 has proved many people wrong.
Best known for revealing the appalling taste of the record-buying British public when her cover of the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah rocketed to number one, she broke the European record for most copies sold in 24 hours as it did so.
Her debut album Overcome was released in October 2009 and made it to number one, while her second album Heartbreak on Hold was released in 2012.
Look at Alexandra's X Factor audition here:
CHER LLOYD
It was second time lucky for Cher Lloyd who stormed the 7th season in 2011, who was only 16 years old and full of attitude.
She only came fourth but her train to fame did not stop there.
Soon after she released her single Swagger Jagger which despite receiving negative reviews, entered at number one on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Irish Singles Chart.
Watch Cher's auditon here:
REBECCA FERGUSON
Ranking second in the seventh series of the UK X Factor, Rebecca Ferguson proved that she had much more to her than just a measily second place.
Since the showed finished in 2011, Rebecca has gone on to release her first studio album Heaven, which ended up on the tenth spot of the UK Singles Chart.
Her second, as yet untitled album is yet to be released later this year.
Take a look at Rebecca's audition:
ONE DIRECTION
They are easily the biggest boyband in the world right now but Niall, Liam, Harry, Zayn and Louis all auditioned as solo artists for the seventh season of X Factor UK. They were thrown together as a group in the Bootcamp-round of the show.
Placing third, the group has since then gone on to sign with Simon Cowell's record label and were the big winners at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2012 for their smash hit What Makes You Beautiful.
Their debut album Up All Night has already sold more than 12 million copies, with their second studio album Take Me Home setting records on the USA Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Take a look at one of the performances in X Factor:
LEONA LEWIS
The big beast of X Factor, and probably the only one to achieve real stardom, Leona was the winner of season 3.
Leona's brand of pop-infused R&B has brought her three Grammy nominations and several million record sales on both sides of the Atlantic. Bleeding Love, her second single, reached number one on the US Billboard Chart, and earned her a career-boosting appearance of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
She is currently working on a third as yet untitled album, scheduled for release next year.
Watch Leona's audition video here:
SHAYNE WARD
The winner of season 2 in 2005 was hailed as the new Justin Timberlake, but Shayne went on to prove that he is more than that.
Shayne was the first lasting X Factor success story. His debut singleThat's My Goal became the fourth fastest selling UK single ever and his first, self-titled, album also reached the top spot.
Even more unexpectedly, his second album also sold well. Currently Shayne is working on his third album.
Watch his audition here:
*Which X-Factor contestant is your favourite? Did we miss anybody on the list? Send us a mail with your thoughts and get published.
