Alexandra Burke

At the audition stages of last year's X Factor, its ultimate winner Alexandra Burke made a little pact with herself. 'I said to myself that if I didn't make it through to the live shows then I would seriously reconsider where I was going to go with music. This was about proving something to myself. That music was the thing that I was born to do.' As it happens, the live shows test where the audience decides to deify the star were just the beginning for the feisty voice from North London.

As the 12 weeks went by, as shocks were laid upon shocks when contestants considered to be hot favourites were thrown off, Alexandra kept pinching herself, to remind herself - this might be reality ...

More about Alexandra Burke...